Tungsten
Tungsten – Highest-Melting Metal for EDM Electrodes, Radiation Shielding, and Counterweights
Tungsten holds the highest melting point of all metals at 3422°C and the highest tensile strength of any pure metal at room temperature. Its extraordinary density (19.3 g/cm³ — nearly 2.5× denser than steel) and thermal stability make it unique and irreplaceable for radiation shielding, kinetic energy penetrators, and rocket nozzle throats where no other material survives the service environment.
Key Properties
- Melting Point: 3422°C — highest of all metals
- Density: 19.3 g/cm³ — 2.5× denser than steel
- Tensile Strength: 980 MPa
- Thermal Conductivity: 173 W/m·K
- Machinability: Very difficult — EDM or diamond grinding preferred
- Standard: ASTM B760
Common Applications
EDM electrodes, X-ray and gamma radiation shielding, aerospace counterweights and ballast, incandescent and halogen lamp filaments, rocket nozzle throats, and high-temperature vacuum furnace components.
Material properties
| Material name | Tungsten |
|---|---|
| Type | Other Metals |
| Standard code | ASTM B760 |
| Tensile strength (MPa) | 980 |
| Yield strength (MPa) | 750 |
| Fatigue strength (MPa) | — |
| Elongation (%) | 2 |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 350 |
| Density (g/cm³) | 19.3 |
| Electrical resistivity (µΩ·in) | 5.6 |
| Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) | 173 |
| Melting range (°C) | 3410–3422 |
| Weldability | Not Recommended |
| Formability | Poor |
| Shear modulus | 161 |
| Industry code | tungsten |