GENERAL PROPERTIES
SYMBOL: W
NUMBER: 74
ELEMENT CATEGORY: Transition Metals
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHASE: Solid
STD ATOMIC WEIGHT: 183.84 g·mol−1
MELTING TEMPERATURE: 3695 K, 3422 °C, 6192 °F
BOILING POINT: 5828 K, 5555 °C, 10031 °F
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE: Body Centered Cubic
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY: (20 °C) 52.8 nΩ·m
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY: (300 K) 173 W·m−1·K−1
THERMAL EXPANSION: (25 °C) 4.5 µm·m−1·K−1
KEY FACTS
Discovered in 1783 by Scheele and Torbern Bergman.
Translates to “heavy stone” in Swedish
Formerly known as wolframium, hence the periodic symbol W
Has the highest melting point of all metals in pure form.
Has the lowest coefficient of any pure metals.
Very difficult to machine and fabricate.
MAJOR APPLICATIONS
Light bulb filaments
Heating elements in vacuum furnaces
Radiation shielding
Ballistics
Welding applications
Alloying agent
Electrodes
COMMON ALLOYS
Tungsten
90% Tungsten 6% Nickel, 4% Copper
90% Tungsten 7% Nickel, 3% Iron
92.5% Tungsten 5.25% Nickel 2.25% Iron
95% Tungsten 3.5% Nickel 1.5% Copper
95% Tungsten 3.5% Nickel 1.5% Iron
97% Tungsten 2.1% Nickel .9% Iron