Extraction of Tungsten from Tungsten Ore-I

Tungsten is found in the minerals Wolframite (iron-manganese tungstate, FeWO₄/MnWO₄), Scheelite (calcium tungstate, (CaWO₄), ferberite and hübnerite. These are mined and used to produce about 37,400 tons of tungsten concentrates per year in 2000. China produced over 75% of this total, with most of the remaining production coming from Austria, Bolivia, Portugal, and Russia.

Tungsten is extracted from its ores in several stages. The ore is eventually converted to tungsten(VI) oxide (WO₃), which is heated with hydrogen or carbon to produce powdered tungsten. It can be used in that state or pressed into solid bars.

Tungsten can also be extracted by hydrogen reduction of WF₆ (WF₆ + 3H₂ → W + 6HF) or pyrolytic decomposition (WF₆ + energy → W + 3F₂).

Because it retains its hardness at high temperatures and has a high melting point, elemental tungsten is used in many high-temperature applications, such as light bulb, cathode-ray tube, and vacuum tube filaments, heating elements, and rocket engine nozzles. Its high melting point also makes tungsten suitable for aerospace and high-temperature uses such as electrical, heating, and welding applications, notably in the gas tungsten arc welding process (also called TIG (tungsten/inert gas) welding). 

 

Tungsten Powder Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - www.tungsten-powder.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten & Molybdenum Information Bank: http://i.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Molybdenum News & Molybdenum Price: http://news.molybdenum.com.cn

• < Prev
• Next >