tungstenheavy

Tungsten heavy, commonly referred to as tungsten heavy alloy (WHA), denotes a family of dense composite materials formed by dispersing tungsten particles within a ductile metallic matrix, typically nickel–iron or nickel–copper. The combination achieves very high density with greater toughness than solid tungsten, making WHAs suitable for weight-critical applications.

A typical WHA contains about 90–97 percent tungsten by weight, with the remainder being the metal binder. The binder materials vary and can include nickel–iron, nickel–copper–iron, or cobalt-containing alloys, chosen to balance toughness, strength, and corrosion resistance. WHAs are produced by powder metallurgy, involving mixing metal powders, compacting, and sintering, often followed by hot isostatic pressing to maximize density. The resulting microstructure consists of tungsten grains embedded in a continuous metal binder, which provides ductility and facilitates machinability relative to pure tungsten.

Key properties include very high density (about 16.5–18 g/cm3), elevated stiffness and high-temperature strength, and improved fracture toughness compared with pure tungsten. Thermal conductivity is moderate, and although machinability remains challenging, the ductile binder eases shaping and finishing. WHAs also offer effective gamma radiation attenuation due to tungsten’s high atomic number, making them useful for shielding.

Applications encompass weight-critical components such as counterweights and ballast for aerospace and industrial machinery, vibration-damping weights, and radiation shielding. They have also seen use in military contexts for certain penetrator designs, though such usage is subject to regulatory and ethical considerations.

Safety and handling note that tungsten powders and especially binder metals like nickel and cobalt pose health risks if inhaled or ingested; appropriate industrial hygiene and disposal practices are essential.