Using data from a large US health survey, the study has shown that high tungsten levels – as measured in urine samples – are strongly linked with an increase in the occurrence of stroke, roughly equal to a doubling of the odds of experiencing the condition.

Conducted by a team from the University of Exeter, the study represents the most comprehensive analysis to date of the potential health effects of the metal.

According to figures from the World Health Organisation, stroke is currently the second leading cause of death in the Western world, ranking only second to heart disease. It is also the leading cause of disability in adults, often resulting in loss of motor control, urinary incontinence, depression and memory loss.

The research used data from the US based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), analysing information for 8614 participants aged between 18 and 74 over a 12 year period.

Higher tungsten levels were found to be strongly associated with an increase in the prevalence of stroke, independent of typical risk factors. Importantly, the findings show that tungsten could be a significant risk factor for stroke in people under the age of 50.

Toyota Motor Corporation was honored this month for its ongoing efforts to promote a sustainable society by reducing, reusing and recycling resources, such as tungsten and tungsten carbide materials.

At this year's 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) Awards hosted by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) 3Rs Promotion Council, Toyota and Toyota Tsusho Corporation shared the 2013 Prime Minister's Prize.

Separately, Toyota and Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. shared a Rare Metal Recycling Award from the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI) presented earlier this month at the Awards for Resources Recirculation Technologies and Systems. The award, announced on October 11, recognized the companies' jointly developed system for recycling the rare metal tungsten.

Toyota was one of the first automakers to respond to the implications of mass production and disposal of vehicles. In 1970, Toyota and Toyota Tsusho Corporation founded Toyota Metal Co., Ltd., the first end-of-life vehicle shredding plant established by an automaker. The Toyota Group (consisting of 17 companies including TMC and Toyota Tsusho Corporation) has remained committed to the responsible disposal of end-of-life vehicles, and has developed a wide variety of world-first recycling technologies and systems to recover tungsten materials.

Toyota is also working to recycle rare metals that are used in non-hybrid vehicles. In 2010, Toyota teamed up with Sumitomo Electric Industries to establish a business focused on recycling tungsten, which is most commonly used to produce highly resilient carbide tools. The system combines processes for sorting and collecting scrap from cemented carbide products with new, world-first recycling technology to enable 100 percent recovery and recycling of tungsten in cemented carbide scrap. To date, the venture has recycled 75 tons of tungsten.


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BlueFire Equipment Corporation (BLFR) announced today its team of scientists and engineers are working to finalize production of custom designed proprietary polycrystalline diamond cutter (PDC) tungsten carbide drill bits for its international clients.

Using advanced manufacturing techniques, BlueFire is optimizing and adapting its leading edge tungsten carbide drill bit technology for international applications.

Chairman and CEO of BlueFire Equipment Corporation William A. Blackwell said, “BlueFire’s team is customizing its highly engineered drilling equipment for very deep, high pressure environments and dense, hard rock formations.” He added, “We are casting these PDC tungsten carbide drill bits using our company’s advanced manufacturing techniques and made-to-order design specifications. The result is an improved product with the same cost and time saving attributes as our previous designs.”

BlueFire Equipment Corporation announced today its team of scientists and engineers are working to finalize production of custom designed proprietary polycrystalline diamond cutter tungsten carbide (PDC) drill bits for its international clients.

“BlueFire’s team is customizing its highly engineered drilling equipment for very deep, high pressure environments and dense, hard rock formations.”

Using advanced manufacturing techniques, BlueFire is optimizing and adapting its leading edge drill bit technology for international applications.

Chairman and CEO of BlueFire Equipment Corporation William A. Blackwell said, “BlueFire’s team is customizing its highly engineered drilling equipment for very deep, high pressure environments and dense, hard rock formations.” He added, “We are casting these tungsten carbide PDC bits using our company’s advanced manufacturing techniques and made-to-order design specifications. The result is an improved product with the same cost and time saving attributes as our previous designs.”

Over the course of a drilling program, BlueFire’s technology has demonstrated the potential to save operators millions of dollars. As previously announced, the BlueFire PDC bit drilled in excess of 200 feet per hour in the Powder River Basin, demonstrating excellent performance. BlueFire’s proprietary bit drilled more than 6,000 feet at the Campbell County, Wyoming location.

BlueFire’s exclusive design has the ability to provide higher rates of penetration (ROP) and longer bit runs in hard rock formations and shales, representing a breakthrough in drilling technology. BlueFire bits employ large cutter face volumes for rapid drilling of shales, sandstones, limestones and sticky clays. These tungsten carbide drill bits utilize premium PDC cutters for improved ROP and are designed using directed ports to accelerate cleaning and optimize cooling. Company findings indicate a decrease of more than 30 percent in temperature on the cutting surfaces, drastically reducing cutter wear and extending the life of the bit.

Conventional tungsten carbide drill bits use nozzles that eject drilling fluid into the well bottom resulting in a general application and uneven distribution at the point of contact. BlueFire’s bit design employs strategically aligned nozzles to concentrate high-pressure jet streams directly on the cutting edge, lubricating the interface between the cutters and the rock formation being drilled. Furthermore, improved cleaning and scouring action facilitates removal of cuttings. The result is a bit that runs cleaner and cooler.


Tungsten Carbide Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn
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