Application of Tungsten Wire in Radar Display Components

The application of tungsten wire in radar display components mainly focuses on the electron gun and vacuum maintenance system of traditional cathode ray tube technology, with its high melting point, low vapor pressure, and mechanical stability being key advantages.

1. Electron Gun Components in Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)

In early radar displays, cathode ray tubes (CRT) were the mainstream technology. The core component of CRT is the electron gun, which is responsible for emitting an electron beam and controlling its direction, ultimately forming an image on the fluorescent screen. Tungsten wire may play the following roles in electron guns:

(1) Filament (Heating Element):

The cathode of an electron gun usually needs to be heated to emit electrons (thermionic emission). Tungsten wire is used as a filament material due to its high melting point (3422 ° C) and high temperature stability. It generates high temperature through resistance heating, causing the cathode material (such as barium tungsten alloy) to release electrons.

(2) Gate or Focusing Electrode:

The high density and corrosion resistance of tungsten make it suitable for manufacturing precision electrodes for controlling the focusing and deflection of electron beams, ensuring image clarity.

With the transformation of radar displays towards flat panel technologies such as LCD and OLED, CRT has gradually been phased out, and the application of tungsten wire in this field has also decreased. However, in certain special scenarios such as aviation and military maintenance of old equipment, CRT may still use tungsten wire components.

2. Structural Materials in High Vacuum Environments

Radar display components, especially electronic tubes, typically require operation in high vacuum environments to prevent signal attenuation caused by collisions between electron beams and gas molecules. The advantages of tungsten wire include:

(1) Low Vapor Pressure:

Tungsten has extremely low vapor pressure at high temperatures and is not easily volatile, making it suitable for maintaining a vacuum environment for a long time.

(2) Mechanical Strength:

The high strength and creep resistance of tungsten wire make it an ideal material for supporting structures or connectors, ensuring stable operation of components under vibration or impact.

3. Auxiliary Materials in Microwave Devices

In the microwave section of radar systems (such as magnetrons and traveling wave tubes), tungsten wires may be used for:

(1) Heater:

Provide heating current to the cathode, similar to the filament in CRT.

(2) Collecting electrode or attenuator:

By utilizing the high density and conductivity of tungsten, it can absorb or scatter microwave energy and adjust signal strength.

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