Tungsten metallpulver

Översikt över tungsten metal powder

Tungsten metal powder refers to fine particulate material composed primarily of elemental tungsten for use in various industrial applications. Key properties include extremely high density, strength, hardness, and high temperature durability.

Common applications of tungsten powder include:

• Tungsten carbide composites
• Tunglegeringar av volfram
• Termiska sprutbeläggningar
• Additiv tillverkning
• Elektriska kontakter
• Avskärmning mot strålning

Tungsten is considered a critical raw material for its unique performance combined with precarious supply dynamics. Continue reading to learn more about specifications, processing, pricing and uses of tungsten powder.

Material Types of tungsten metal powder

Tungsten metal powder comes in several primary compositions:

Typ	Typiska betyg	Sammansättning
Ren volfram	99.9%, 99.99% purity	Elemental tungsten with impurity limits
Oxide-Dispersed Tungsten	Y2O3 additions	Tungsten with 0.5-1% yttrium oxide nanoparticles
Doped Tungsten	Lanthanum or other dopants	Tungsten with added grain growth inhibitors < 1% level

Tabell 1: Common material categories for tungsten metal powders depending on application needs

Special dopants or oxide additives help tailor powder properties during consolidation into end-user components and parts requiring stability at high temperatures.

Viktiga egenskaper

Fastighet	Typiskt värde	Betydelse
Täthet	19.3 g/cc	Provides excellent mass and radiation blocking
Smältpunkt	3410°C	Retains strength at extreme temperatures where most metals fail
Slutlig draghållfasthet	550-620 MPa	Relatively brittle material with moderate tensile ductility
Hårdhet	HV 300-350	Harder than tool steel
Young's modul	350-410 GPa	Stiff, resistant to deflection
Termisk konduktivitet	165 W/mK	Useful in thermal management parts operating at high temps

Tabell 2: Overview of mechanical and physical properties exhibited by tungsten metal powder and consolidated alloys

The unrivaled temperature resistance combined with density drives adoption in demanding energy, aerospace, defense and electronics applications.

Partikelegenskaper hos tungsten metal powder

Typical tungsten powder morphology:

Parameter	Detaljer
Renhet	99.9% to 99.999% available
Partikelns form	Oregelbunden, kantig
Storleksfördelning	1 to 100 micron typical
Syrehalt	<100 ppm
Surface oxide level	<50 nm thicknes

Tabell 3: Powder quality metrics for tungsten metal powders used in various consolidation processes

Care must be taken to prevent oxidation during powder handling. Chemistries tailored to final part density and grain structure targets.

Produktionsprocess

• Primary methods to produce tungsten metal powder:
  • Hydrogen Reduction (Hydrogen is used to convert oxide feedstocks to powder)
  • Thermite Process Reduction (Exothermic oxide-metal reactions produce powder)
• Secondary mechanical processes:
  • Jet Milling (Feedstock crushed into fine particles via collisions)
  • Rotating Electrode Process (Electrode spinning and melt disintegration)
• Typical powder-part consolidation techniques:
  • Isostatisk varmpressning
  • Sintring
  • Additive Manufacturing (SLM, EBM)
• Environment and handling considerations:
  • Nominally inert storage <40°C under argon
  • Glove box handling to prevent oxidation

Tillämpningar av tungsten metal powder

Major uses of tungsten metal powder across industries:

Segment	Tillämpning	Anledning till användning
Industriell	Tungsten carbide materials	Extreme hardness and toughness for machining and mining tools
Försvar	Kinetic energy penetrators	Superior density properties
Flyg- och rymdindustrin	Munstycken till raketmotorer	Maintains material strength in extreme environments
Energi	Heat shields, plasma torch components	High temperature performance where alternatives fail
Elektronik	Elektriska kontakter	Arcing resistance combined with thermal/conductivity properties

Tabell 4: Overview of key application areas for tungsten metal derived components in various industries

Tungsten sees ubiquitous use in products where hardness, density, toughness and strength are essential under extreme temperatures or loading.

Kostnadsanalys

Typical tungsten powder pricing:

Parameter	Detaljer
Powder Price	$50 to $350 per kg
Consolidated Part Price	$100+ per kg
Processing Yield	60-70%
Primary Suppliers	China, Austria, Portugal, USA, Russia other countries
Ledande tidningar	6-12 weeks frequently

Tabell 5: Buying factors including raw material costs for tungsten products

Consumers report extreme pricing volatility making budgetary planning difficult in the tungsten market. Established partnerships and supply agreements mitigate risks.

För- och nackdelar

Fördelar

• Extremely high density helps radiation shielding
• Maintains strength to over 3000°C where most metals melt
• Relatively neutral material avoids contamination
• Powder form supports complex geometries with some AM processes
• Hardness similar to tool steel once parts consolidated

Nackdelar

• Brittle characteristics mean low tensile ductility
• Difficult to fully densify parts without pinholes and voids
• Requires specialized cold-wall vacuum equipment for melting
• Risk of supply chain disruptions impacting availability
• Oxidation risk necessitates controlled handling
• Very expensive compared to steel alternatives

VANLIGA FRÅGOR

Q: What particle size range is typical for tungsten powders used in various applications?

A: Most common size distributions fall between 1-100 microns. Finer particles pack better aiding full densification but have handling issues. Particle engineering depends on consolidation method with AM range generally 10-45 microns and carbide composites using up to sub-micron powders.

Q: What alloying elements can be incorporated into tungsten metal powder?

A: Typical alloyants like nickel, iron and copper severely degrade high temperature performance so are rarely added. Rhenium improves ductility slightly. Oxide particles help pin grain size. Rare earth dopants also stabilize properties. Alloying options are limited to small additives to maintain purity.

Q: What recommended storage and handling precautions apply for tungsten powders?

A: Like other air sensitive materials, tungsten metal powder should be kept below 40°C under inert argon gas to prevent oxidation from moisture or oxygen. Glove box protocols are necessary including leak checks. Never allow contact with organics during handling to prevent contamination or reactions.

Q: Does tungsten powder require hazardous material classification and special shipping?

A: Elemental tungsten metal powder is benign and not reactive. It qualifies for normal freight shipping in approved packaging similar to other industrial raw materials. No special DG classification needed unlike carbide grades with controlled cobalt content considered hazardous mixtures.

Q: What downstream parts production processes are compatible with tungsten powder feedstocks?

A: Hot isostatic pressing and sintering generate standard consolidated components like weights or heat shields. Additive manufacturing via powder bed fusion creates complex geometries unattainable otherwise. Powders also serve thermal spray coating feedstocks requiring post-consolidation.

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