Introduction to tungsten

Tungsten is a metallic element with the symbol W, atomic number 74, located in group VIB of period 6 of the periodic table. Its elemental form is a steel-gray or silvery-white metal with high hardness, a melting point as high as 3400℃, and a density of 19.35 g/cm³. In nature, tungsten mainly exists in the forms of scheelite and wolframite.

Tungsten is chemically stable at room temperature and possesses properties such as high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and good electrical conductivity.

In the fields of metallurgy and metallic materials, tungsten is considered a high-melting-point rare metal, or a refractory rare metal. Tungsten and its alloys are among the most important functional materials in modern industry, defense, and high-tech applications, widely used in aerospace, nuclear energy, shipbuilding, automotive, electrical, electronics, and chemical industries. In particular, tungsten-containing high-temperature alloys are mainly used in components of gas turbines, rockets, missiles, and nuclear reactors, while high-density tungsten alloys are used in armor-piercing warheads for anti-tank and anti-submarine warfare, as well as tungsten filaments in light bulbs. Tungsten is widely used in modern technology in both its pure metallic state and alloy form.