Tungsten Alloys Counterweight, Balanceweights and Radiation Shielding

Tungsten is a refractory metal with a high melting point and a very high density. It can be used in a pure form but it becomes more useful as an engineering material when alloyed with small quantities of other elements to form a group of products sometimes referred to as Tungsten Heavy Metal Alloys (WHAs). These alloys usually contain 90-97% tungsten and initial forming requires a process of pressing and sintering. Wrought shapes can then be produced however near-final-shape sintering is more common.

Most of the major applications for tungsten alloys are based on its very high density where it is used to control or distribute weight in some way. Tungsten is up to 65% denser than lead and 130% denser than steel. Radiation shielding is a second common application area. Tungsten alloys generally have high strength and good creep resistance however at low temperatures ductility is poor making it unsuitable for some applications. Corrosion resistance and magnetic properties can also be factors in alloy selection.

Tungsten can be used in a granular form to provide balance weight when used as simple ballast. However, more advanced applications form an actual component out of a suitable tungsten alloy making it a functioning part of a final assembly. Examples of this are found in aerospace (wing balances), defence (missile fin balance) and motorsport. Other application areas include computer disk balances, ordnance (kinetic energy penetration), marine balancing components and gyroscope components.


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