Ammonium paratungstate (or APT) is a white crystalline salt of ammonium and tungsten, with the chemical formula (NH₄)₁₀(H₂W₁₂O₄₂)·4H₂O.

 

Ammonium paratungstate is produced by separating tungsten from its ore. Once the ammonium paratungstate is prepared, it is heated to its decomposition temperature, 600 °C. Left over is WO3, tungsten(VI) oxide. From there, the oxide is heated in an atmosphere of hydrogen, reducing the tungsten to elemental powder, leaving behind water vapor. From there, the tungsten powder can be fused into any number of things, from wire to bars to other shapes.

 

The thermal decomposition of monoclinic, orthorhombic and freeze-dried ammonium paratungstate (APT) has been studied over the temperature range 100 to 500 C using thermogravimetry, evolved gas analysis. X-ray diffraction and electron optical techniques. The particle morphologies of the original APT have been related to the morphologies of the products of decomposition. A mechanism of decomposition which postulates the formation and subsequent decomposition of amorphous ammonium metatungstate is proposed and substantiated by X-ray diffraction analysis and evolved gas analysis.