Tungsten sand is used to extract tungsten. Tungsten is widely used, the most common is tungsten carbide (WC) cemented carbide. Such cemented carbides are used as durable metals in metal processing, mining, oil extraction and construction industries. In addition, tungsten wires are widely used in electric bulbs and vacuum tubes. Tungsten is also commonly used as an electrode. Tungsten can be drawn into very fine wires, and the melting point is very high.Other applications include:
1. Due to its high melting point, tungsten is commonly used in aviation and high temperature environments, such as electronics, heating and welding (e.g. gas tungsten arc welding).
2. Tungsten is very hard and very tight, so it is ideal to make heavy metal alloys for armor, heat sink and high density applications such as ballast, counterweight, ballast for ships and airplanes.
3. Because tungsten is very tight, darts often contain 80% to 97% tungsten.
4. High speed steels contain tungsten, sometimes 18%.
5. Tungsten (Hastelloy, Stellite, etc.) is contained in Superalloys used to manufacture turbine blades, durable parts and protective coatings.
6. Tungsten is used in bullets to replace lead.
7. Tungsten compounds are used as catalysts and inorganic colors. Tungsten disulfide is a high temperature lubricant, which is still stable at 500 ° C.
8. Because tungsten is similar to borosilicate glass, it is used for glass / metal sealing
9. Tungsten alloys with nickel, iron, and cobalt are used to make heavy alloys that replace depleted uranium in kinetic energy bombs.
10. In integrated circuits, tungsten is the connection between the front lines. The contact hole is eroded in the silicon dioxide insulator, tungsten is injected and ground to connect the triode. Typical contact holes can be as small as 65 nanometers.
11. Tungsten carbide is one of the hardest materials used in machine tools and abrasives. Tungsten carbide is the most common and often the best material in abrasives and turning tools.
12. Tungsten is a shielding material in radiology. Generally, tungsten containers are used to transport fluorodeoxyglucose, because of the high energy in fluorodeoxyglucose, fluorine-18 lead containers cannot be used.
13. Others: tungsten oxide is used in ceramic glazes, and calcium or magnesium tungsten is commonly used in phosphors. Tungsten crystals are used as scintillation detectors in nuclear physics and nuclear medicine. Tungsten is used as an x-ray target and as a heater in an electronic furnace. Tungsten containing salts are used in the chemical and leather industries. Bronze colored tungsten oxide is used in painting.
Because of its low sensitivity, tungsten carbide is used as jewelry, and because it is very hard, it won't be scratched like other polished metals. Some instruments use tungsten wires.
