Tungsten, the strongest natural metal on earth, has a deep history, and this element was actually discovered 236 years ago in 1781. Although Tungsten was discovered in the 1700s, it wasn’t applied in an industry for another 150 years, when in the 1930s the oil and gas industry used tungsten in the hydrotreating of crude oil. Nowadays, Tungsten scrap, Tungsten steel alloys, and other forms of Tungsten are used in all kinds of industries.
Tungsten is used, scrapped, and recycled all over the world. Whether you have a significant amount of Tungsten scrap (around 40,000 lbs or more), or you have just a couple hundred pounds of Tungsten swarf on your hands, you can sell your material to a Tungsten carbide recycling company and earn top dollar for your used carbide.
If you want to learn more about this mysterious element, which translates to “heavy stone” in Swedish, here are some common uses and additional information about Tungsten.
Eureka?
Initially, tungsten was a candidate for the filament in the early lightbulb. Thanks to its high melting temperature and conductive properties, inventors thought it could be the perfect material. Unfortunately for them, tungsten filaments were far too brittle.
Cemented Carbide
Cemented carbide can be made into tools for drilling and mining. Roughly 65% of the entire global carbide market results in making mining tips, drill bits, and other cutting, mining, and drilling tools. With a tensile strength almost double that of steel, it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular choice for mining and construction.
Plus, tungsten carbide products are actually preferred over other strong metals because it’s extremely durable and wear and tear resistant. On a global scale, cemented Tungsten carbide is by far the most common industrial use for tungsten. In the United States, cemented carbide makes up 66% of all industrial tungsten use, while it makes up 54% in China, 70% in Russia, 67% in Japan, and, the highest amount in the world, at a rate of 72% in Europe.
Industrial Alloys
Tungsten was crucial in the invention of the early “superalloys,” man-made metals that could survive the incredible heat of jet and rocket engines. For better or worse, engineers also discovered in the 1940s that tungsten could be used to create incredibly effective carbide projectiles, which were used widely in the second World War. Tungsten alloys can also be created with silver, nickel, iron, and copper to manufacture various materials that are great for commercial construction jobs, electronics industries, industrial gear making, and radiation shielding products.
If you want to get learn more about the various uses of Tungsten carbide, or want to get a nice return price for your used Tungsten scrap, contact Tungco today!
