Metal · Material guide
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Tungsten is the densest and highest-melting-point structural metal. It is the material of choice for radiation shielding, EDM electrodes, resistance-weld tips, and dense counterweights. Shops that run it have the carbide tooling, EDM, and sourcing to handle it; upload your drawing and we route it accordingly.
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Grades
Tungsten grades and composites shops run most
The grade sets density, thermal conductivity, and whether the part is machinable at all. These are the ones to specify.
Pure tungsten (99.95%)
Commercial-pure W, 99.95% minimum. Highest melting point of any metal (3422 °C), high density (19.3 g/cm³), low CTE. Brittle at room temperature so EDM and grinding dominate over milling and turning. Available as rod, plate, and sheet from Plansee, H.C. Starck, and Edgetech.
Best for EDM electrodes, X-ray and gamma shielding, high-temperature tooling, lamp filaments
Tungsten heavy alloy (WHA, 90–97% W)
W particles sintered with a Ni-Fe or Ni-Cu binder for improved machinability and ductility while keeping 17–18.5 g/cm³ density. The practical choice for machined counterweights, kinetic penetrators, and dense balance parts.
Best for Counterweights, vibration dampers, radiation shielding, inertial balance
Tungsten-copper (W-Cu, 10–40% Cu)
A sintered composite that pairs W's thermal mass with Cu's conductivity. Lower CTE than pure Cu, far better thermal conductivity than pure W, routinely EDM'd. The default EDM electrode material for mold tooling in hardened steels.
Best for EDM electrodes, resistance-weld tips, heat sinks for GaN/SiC, electrical contacts
Tungsten carbide (WC, cemented)
A cermet of tungsten carbide particles bonded with cobalt or nickel. Extremely hard, used for cutting tools, wear parts, and tool holders. Machined by grinding and EDM only; not conventionally milled.
Best for Cutting tool inserts, wear plates, nozzles, die inserts
Specs
Material properties
Representative values for 99.95% pure tungsten. Heavy alloys and W-Cu composites trade density for machinability.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density (pure W) | 19.25 g/cm³ (0.697 lb/in³) — among the densest metals |
| Density (WHA) | 17.0–18.5 g/cm³ |
| Density (W-Cu 80/20) | ~15.4 g/cm³ |
| Melting point (pure W) | 3422 °C (6192 °F) — highest of any metal |
| Tensile strength (annealed W) | ~140 ksi; brittle below ~400 °C |
| Hardness (pure W) | ~350 HV; WC-Co: 1200–1800 HV |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion (W) | ~4.5 µm/m·K |
| Thermal conductivity (W) | ~173 W/m·K; W-Cu 80/20: ~200 W/m·K |
| Machinability | Pure W: poor (grind/EDM). WHA: moderate. W-Cu: EDM-dominant. |
Pure tungsten is brittle at room temperature; drilled holes and sharp inside corners risk cracking. For complex geometry, specify EDM and generous radii on the drawing.
Processes
Manufacturing methods for tungsten
The right process depends on part geometry, tolerances, and production volume.
Finishing
Finishes for tungsten
Finishing on tungsten is usually mechanical (ground, polished) or plated. Tungsten does not anodize.
As-ground / as-EDM
Standard for electrodes, shielding, and most structural W parts.
Polished
Mirror finish on optical substrates and X-ray parts.
Nickel plating
Common barrier layer on W-Cu for solderability and corrosion resistance.
Gold plating
On W-Cu electrical contacts for low contact resistance.
Oxide / phosphate
On WHA counterweights for corrosion resistance in automotive and aerospace service.
Tungsten and WC dust are health hazards. Shops quoting these materials should state their ventilation and PPE protocol; we only route RFQs to shops set up for it.
Applications
Where tungsten parts are used
Tungsten and its composites show up wherever density, temperature, or wear is the hard constraint.
Compare
Tungsten vs other materials
How tungsten and its composites compare for the usual choices.
Tungsten vs Molybdenum
Molybdenum →- Molybdenum is roughly half the density (10.2 vs 19.3 g/cm³) and far more machinable
- Tungsten melts higher and shields radiation better per unit volume
- Both oxidize above a few hundred °C in air
Choose tungsten when density or absolute temperature is the spec. Choose moly for most hot-zone and semi parts.
Tungsten vs Copper
Copper →- Pure copper conducts electricity and heat better than W-Cu
- W-Cu holds up to spark erosion where pure copper would deform or burn
- Pure copper is far cheaper and easier to machine
Choose W-Cu for EDM electrodes and sinker work in hardened steel. Choose copper for straight conductivity parts.
Tungsten vs Lead
- Lead is cheaper than tungsten for shielding
- WHA gives similar shielding at ~1.6× density, less thickness required
- Lead is restricted in many applications (RoHS, medical, consumer)
Choose WHA where lead is restricted or thickness is constrained. Choose lead for cost-driven bulk shielding where regulations allow.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Pure tungsten (99.95%) is commercially-pure W, extremely hard and brittle, mostly ground or EDM machined. Tungsten heavy alloy (WHA) is W particles sintered with a Ni-Fe or Ni-Cu binder (3–10% binder) that drops density from 19.3 to about 17–18.5 g/cm³ but allows conventional milling and turning. Specify WHA when you need density but also want machined features at reasonable cost.
More materials
Other materials on OpenSpindle
Need tungsten, W-Cu, or WHA parts?
Upload a drawing and we route it to refractory-metal shops with EDM, grinding, and the mill sourcing to run tungsten. Realistic 3–6 week lead times built in.
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