Tungsten
(information)
✅ Continuing with **Tungsten (W)** — the **hardest, densest, and highest-melting-point metal** (3422 °C), essential in **aerospace, electronics, machining, lighting, and defense industries**. Known for its strength, conductivity, and resistance to wear, Tungsten is a cornerstone of modern heavy industry and military technology. --- # ⚙️ Modern Tungsten Uses by Industry (Option A Format) ### 🏭 **1–5 : Hard Metals & Cutting Tools (~45–50 %)** 1. **Cemented Carbides (WC–Co)** – Main use; tungsten carbide cutting tools for metalworking and mining. 2. **Drill Bits & Milling Inserts** – Used in automotive, construction, and oil drilling equipment. 3. **Metal Forming Dies & Punches** – Precision tooling for high-strength steels and alloys. 4. **Aerospace Machining Tools** – High-temperature cutting and boring applications. 5. **Mining & Oil Exploration Equipment** – High-impact tools with extreme durability. --- ### ✈️ **6–10 : Aerospace, Defense & Energy (~20–25 %)** 6. **Tungsten Alloys (W–Ni–Fe, W–Cu)** – Ballast weights, counterbalances, and missile guidance systems. 7. **Kinetic Energy Penetrators (APFSDS Rounds)** – High-density armor-piercing projectiles. 8. **Rocket Nozzles & Re-entry Heat Shields** – Ultra-high-temperature thermal protection. 9. **Radiation Shielding & Collimators** – Dense alloys for medical and nuclear applications. 10. **Turbine Blades & Jet Engine Components** – W-based superalloys for heat resistance. --- ### 💡 **11–14 : Electronics & Lighting (~10–12 %)** 11. **Filaments for Incandescent and Halogen Lamps** – Classic use for its high melting point. 12. **X-ray Targets & Electron Emitters** – Medical and industrial imaging systems. 13. **Semiconductor Contacts & Gate Metals (W, WSi₂)** – Used in transistors and integrated circuits. 14. **Heating Elements in Vacuum Furnaces** – Operates at extreme temperatures. --- ### ⚗️ **15–17 : Chemical, Glass & Industrial (~8–10 %)** 15. **Tungsten Oxides & Sulphides** – Catalysts in petrochemical and organic reactions. 16. **Tungsten Electrodes (GTAW Welding)** – Used in TIG welding for stainless steel and aluminum. 17. **Glass Seals & Vacuum Feedthroughs** – Thermally matched electrodes in light bulbs and tubes. --- ### 🔬 **18–20 : Specialty & Emerging (~3–5 %)** 18. **Plasma Spray Coatings (WC/Co, WRe)** – Wear-resistant surfaces for aerospace and energy turbines. 19. **3D Printing Powders & Additive Manufacturing** – Aerospace and nuclear reactor components. 20. **Tungsten Disulfide (WS₂) Lubricants** – Dry lubrication for space and vacuum systems. --- ### 📌 Sector Share Summary | Sector Group | % of Global Tungsten Use | | -------------------------------- | ------------------------ | | Hard Metals & Cutting Tools | ~45–50 % | | Aerospace & Defense Applications | ~20–25 % | | Electronics & Lighting | ~10–12 % | | Chemical & Industrial Uses | ~8–10 % | | Specialty & Emerging Uses | ~3–5 % | --- ✅ **Next element:** **Rhenium (Re)** — one of the rarest metals on Earth, used in **jet engines, superalloys, thermocouples, and platinum catalysts**. Say **“continue”** to move on to **Rhenium** in the same structured format.Known Methods of Extraction
Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Tungsten (W, atomic number 74).** Tungsten is a **transition metal** that occurs primarily in **scheelite (CaWO₄)** and **wolframite ((Fe,Mn)WO₄)**. Industrial extraction involves **concentration, chemical conversion to tungstates, and reduction** to produce metallic tungsten. Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Tungsten**: --- # **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Tungsten** ### **A. Extraction from Ores** 1. **Mining of Scheelite or Wolframite Ores** – Primary tungsten sources. 2. **Crushing and Grinding of Ore** – Prepares material for chemical processing. 3. **Gravity and Magnetic Separation** – Concentrates tungsten ores. 4. **Flotation to Separate Tungstate Minerals** – Enriches WO₄²⁻ minerals. 5. **Alkaline Digestion (NaOH Fusion) of Scheelite** – Converts CaWO₄ to soluble sodium tungstate. 6. **Acid Digestion (HCl or H₂SO₄) of Wolframite** – Produces soluble tungstate salts. --- ### **B. Conversion to Tungsten Compounds** 7. **Precipitation of Ammonium Paratungstate (APT, (NH₄)₁₀W₁₂O₄₁·xH₂O)** – Key intermediate for tungsten metallurgy. 8. **Conversion of APT to Tungsten Trioxide (WO₃)** – Calcination step. 9. **Purification of WO₃ by Recrystallization** – Removes molybdenum and other impurities. 10. **Preparation of Tungsten Hexafluoride (WF₆)** – Laboratory or specialized applications. 11. **Production of Tungsten Carbide (WC) from WO₃** – For tool and industrial use. 12. **Conversion to Tungsten Chlorides (WCl₆, WCl₄)** – For chemical reduction methods. --- ### **C. Reduction to Metallic Tungsten** 13. **Hydrogen Reduction of WO₃ → W** – Main industrial method for producing tungsten metal powder. 14. **Carbon Reduction of WO₃ (Carbothermic)** – Produces tungsten powder or ingots. 15. **Reduction of WCl₆ with Alkali Metals (Na or K)** – Laboratory or specialty metallic tungsten. 16. **Vacuum or Electron Beam Melting of Tungsten Powder** – Produces high-purity tungsten metal. --- ### **D. Recovery and Secondary Sources** 17. **Recovery from Tailings of Tungsten Mines** – Leaching + precipitation of residual tungsten. 18. **Recovery from Scrap Tungsten Alloys** – Recycling tool steel or superalloy scrap. 19. **Recovery from Tungsten-Containing Catalysts** – Hydrometallurgical extraction. 20. **Recovery from Industrial Slags Containing Tungsten** – Leaching and chemical separation. --- ✅ **Summary:** * **Main industrial sources:** Scheelite (CaWO₄), Wolframite ((Fe,Mn)WO₄). * **Primary extraction steps:** Ore concentration → chemical conversion to ammonium paratungstate → WO₃ → reduction to metallic tungsten. * **Metallic tungsten:** Produced via hydrogen reduction, carbothermic reduction, or alkali-metal reduction. * **Byproduct/secondary sources:** Mine tailings, scrap alloys, catalysts, industrial slags. * **Laboratory/experimental:** WF₆ preparation, WCl₆ reduction, vacuum melting. --- Next in periodic order is \*\*Rhenium (Re, atomic number 75). Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Rhenium**?
