Tungsten Chemical Property

Tungsten is an important metal element, although its usage is largely due to its physical properties, but its chemical property can not be overlooked, because they determine and limit the application of tungsten in different conditions and the preparation of tungsten.

Tungsten has high melting point, but the poor oxidation resistance is its weakness, so tungsten at high temperatures need to use hydrogen, inert atmosphere or vacuum as protection, such as the use of coated MOSi₂, nickel, chrome and other methods.

At room temperature, chemical properties of tungsten are stable, but when the air is heated to 400℃, it is significantly oxidized to produce tungsten trioxide (WO3) or tungsten dioxide (WO2). WO3 and WO2 are important high-purity intermediates for reduction of tungsten powder and tungsten carbide powder, can also be used for catalyst in chemical industry.

When tungsten is heated to above 1100 ℃, tungsten reacts with carbon and some carbon-containing gases (CO) to produce tungsten carbide with important industrial value. Tungsten carbide powder is of high density and refractory, which is an important material of cemented carbide.

In addition, tungsten also has good corrosion resistance. At room temperature, tungsten with any concentration of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and aqua are stable. When heated to a certain temperature, tungsten began to be erosive.

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