Tungsten Heavy Alloy

Tungsten heavy alloy (tungsten nickel iron, WNiFe & tungsten nickel copper, WNiCu) contains 80%-98% tungsten in combination with small amounts of the other metals. Beginning in powder form, the desired elements are alloyed in a compacting and sintering process.

Tungsten nickel iron contains 1% to 3% of iron and 1% to 7% of nickel composited at ratios ranging from FeNi 1:1 to 1:4. The 1% to 3 % of iron additive is responsible for significant differences in tungsten alloys containing nickel iron exhibit, comparing tungsten alloys containing nickel copper. First, tungsten nickel iron is ferromagnetic material because of the iron. Iron imparts other special attributes to tungsten nickel iron, such as its comparatively higher density, melting point, ductility, and strength. By virtue of these excellent properties, tungsten nickel iron alloys have better high-temperature strength and higher cold-work deformation rate than tungsten nickel copper.

Tungsten nickel copper contains 1% to 7% of Ni and 0.5% to 3% of Cu composited at ratios ranging from Ni to Cu 3:2 to 4:1. Nonmagnetic and high conductivity are two outstanding properties of tungsten alloys with nickel copper binders. Tungsten nickel copper alloys are preferable material in applications such as aerospace and electronic devices requiring non-magnetic working conditions and high thermal and electrical conductivities.

WNiFe/WNiCu Rod

Diameter0.029″ (0.75mm) – 5″ (127 mm)
Length0.15″ (3.81mm) – 40″ (1000mm)
SurfaceGround, Polished, Chemical Cleaned

WNiFe/WNiCu Plate

Thickness0.240″ (6 mm) to 3.15″ (80 mm)
WidthMaximum 22″ (558mm)
LengthMaximum 80″ (2000mm)

WNiFe/WNiCu Sheet

Thickness0.004″ (0.1 mm) to 0.240″ (6 mm)
WidthMaximum 26″ (660mm)
LengthMaximum 80″ (2000mm)

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    Composition

    W90W92W94W95W96W97

    Dimension in

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    Tungsten Alloy Machining Service

    As an ISO-certified refractory metal manufacturer with advanced machining facilities, CHEMETAL USA is capable of offering various tungsten machined parts that all meet a consistently high standard. With years of experience in handling tungsten materials, our highly-trained technicians are skilled in offering the following machining services.

    • Turning 
    • Milling
    • Drilling
    • Cutting
    • Joining
    • Forming
    • Grinding
    • Stamping
    • EDM Machining

    Tungsten Heavy Alloy Standards

    ASTM B 777Class 1Class 2Class 3Class 4
    Tungsten Nominal %9092.59597
    Density (g/cc)16.85-17.25
    17.15-17.85
    17.75-18.35
    18.25-18.85
    Hardeness (HRC)32333435
    Utimate Tensile Strengthksi110110105100
    Mpa758758724689
    Yield Strength at 0.2% off-setksi75757575
    Mpa517517517517
    Elongation (%)5532

    AMS-T-21014
    Class 1
    Class 1
    Class 2
    Class 2
    Class 3
    Class 3
    Class 4
    Composition90W7Ni3Fe
    91W6Ni3Fe
    92W5Ni3Fe
    93W4Ni3Fe95W3Ni2Fe
    96W3Ni1Fe
    97W2Ni1Fe
    Density (g/cm3)17.1±0.15
    17.25±0.15
    17.50±0.15
    17.60±0.15
    18.10±0.15
    18.30±0.15
    18.50±0.15
    Heat TreatmentSinteringSinteringSinteringSinteringSinteringSinteringSintering
    Tensile Strength (Mpa)900-1000
    900-1000
    900-1000
    900-1000
    920-1100
    920-1100
    920-1100
    Elongation (%)18-29
    17-27
    16-26
    16-24
    10-22
    8-20
    6-13
    Hardness (HRC)24-2825-2925-2926-3027-3228-34
    28-36

    Mil-T-21014Class1Class1Class 2
    Class 3
    Class 3
    Class 4
    Composition90%W,
    6%Ni4%Cu
    90%W,
    7%Ni3%Fe
    92.5%W,
    5.25%Ni
    2.25%Fe
    95%W,
    3.5%Ni
    1.5% Cu
    95%W,
    3.5%Ni
    1.5%Fe
    97%W,
    2.1%Ni
    0.9%Fe
    Density (gm/cc; lbs/in3)17;0.61417;0.614
    17.5;0.632
    18;0.65
    18;0.65
    18.5;0.668
    Hardness (RC)242526
    272728
    Ultimate Tensile Strength (PSI)110,000
    120,000
    114,000
    110,000
    120,000
    123,000
    Yield Strength, . 2% Offset (PSI)80,000
    88,000
    84,000
    85,000
    90,000
    85,000
    Elongation (% In 1“)6107775
    Proportional Elastic Limit (PSI)45,000
    52,00046,000
    45,000
    44,00045,000
    Magnetic ProperitiesNilSlightly
    Magnetic
    Slightly
    Magnetic
    NilSlightly
    Magnetic
    Slightly
    Magnetic
    ASTM-B-459-67
    Grade1
    Type Ⅱ && Ⅲ
    Grade1
    Type Ⅱ && Ⅲ
    Grade2
    Type Ⅱ && Ⅲ
    Grade3
    Type Ⅱ && Ⅲ
    Grade3
    Type Ⅱ && Ⅲ
    Grade4
    Type Ⅱ && Ⅲ

    Tungsten Heavy Alloy Application And Properties

    Tungsten heavy alloy is excellent in applications requiring high performance in corrosion resistance, density, machinability, and radiation shielding. Therefore, this makes it ideal for use in specified steelmaking, mining, aerospace, and medical industries.

     

    High Density

    16.5-19.0 g/cm3 density of tungsten heavy alloys (tungsten nickel copper and tungsten nickel iron) are the most important industrial property. The density of tungsten is two times higher than steel and 1.5 times higher than lead. Although many other metals such as gold, platinum, and tantalum, have a comparable density to heavy tungsten alloy, they are either over expensive to obtain or exotic to the environment. Combined with the high machinability and high module elasticity, the density property makes the tungsten heavy alloy to be capable of being machined into a variety of density needed components in many industrial fields. Given an example of counterweight. In a very limited space, a counterweight made of tungsten nickel copper and tungsten nickel iron is the most preferred material to offset the gravity change caused by off-balance, vibration, and swinging.

     

    Radiation Absorption

    Another considerable advantage of tungsten heavy alloy is radiation shielding which is also associated with the high-density property of tungsten alloy.
    The radiation shielding effect of one material will go up along with a rising in its density. Due to this property, tungsten nickel copper has been widely used in radiation shielding applications.  The radiation absorption capacity is one time higher than the lead-based material.
    Tungsten alloy shield has one time higher radiation absorption capacity than the lead shield. On the other hand, tungsten heavy alloy is non-toxic to the environment. For radiation shielding application, the absorbing capacity to gamma radiation and X-ray radiation is 30% to 40% higher than lead materials. The component is 25% to 50% less weight than lead. Meanwhile, it relieves the concern of cost caused by waste processing and toxic threaten.

     

    Hardness and Wear Resistance

    Besides the high density and radiation absorption, many valuable properties associated with the high hardness and resistance have been used in a large number of applications. Tungsten heavy alloy belongs to refractory metal alloys which are extraordinarily resistant to heat and wear. Tungsten heavy alloy has been primarily used to make components that required high wearing resistance such as machining tools including lathes and dices.
    It gets a little reduction in its characteristics even at high temperatures and has excellent wear resistance. Therefore, Tungsten alloys are used for the machining tools such as lathes, milling machines, etc., and manufacturing automobile parts such as engines, transmissions, steering, etc., which contribute to an improvement of machining accuracy.

    • Low thermal expansion
    • High thermal and electrical conductivity
    • High arc resistance
    • Low consumption

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