Tungsten (W) - Mesh, Sheet & Wire - Material Information

Tungsten (W) is a heavy, silvery-white metal known for its outstanding density, hardness, and record-high melting point. It is a key material in high-temperature, high-stress, and high-radiation environments, from aerospace propulsion systems to cutting tools and electrical contacts.

Material Overview

Tungsten crystallizes in a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure and has a density of 19.25 g/cm³. Its melting point, 3422 °C, is the highest of all pure metals. This refractory nature results from strong metallic bonding between 5d electrons, which also gives the metal a tensile strength above 1000 MPa and excellent creep resistance. Tungsten maintains structural integrity at temperatures where most metals weaken. It is chemically inert under standard conditions and slowly forms tungsten trioxide (WO?) when heated in air above 500 °C. The metal’s high thermal conductivity (~170 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹) and low coefficient of thermal expansion (~4.5 × 10?? K?¹) make it dimensionally stable under extreme heat loads.

Applications and Advantages

Tungsten is widely used in incandescent lamp filaments, X-ray targets, thermionic emitters, and high-density counterweights. Tungsten–copper and tungsten–nickel–iron alloys are used in aerospace and defense applications, providing improved machinability while retaining density and strength. Tungsten carbide (WC), produced by reacting tungsten with carbon, is one of the hardest known materials and is used extensively in cutting tools, drilling equipment, and wear-resistant coatings. In nuclear fusion and plasma systems, tungsten serves as a plasma-facing material thanks to its low sputtering rate and radiation tolerance.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies tungsten in various high-purity forms, including mesh, sheet, and wire, for research and advanced engineering applications. Each form is available in customizable dimensions and specifications to meet performance needs in high-temperature, vacuum, and radiation environments.

Explore Tungsten (W) - Mesh, Sheet & Wire and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.