Tungsten Alloy Pure W · print state
Tungsten Alloy Pure W Sintered
Properties of the Sintered condition, compared with the other Pure W tempers.
Cheapest near-net P/M form for shielding blocks, crucibles and simple electrodes where residual porosity and low strength are acceptable.
What is Pure W Sintered?
Pure W Sintered is Pure W in the Sintered condition — cheapest near-net P/M form for shielding blocks, crucibles and simple electrodes where residual porosity and low strength are acceptable. Pure W Sintered has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — weaker than 100% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 0.5% and the elastic modulus is 350 GPa (50.8 Msi). Pure W Sintered has a density of 18.6 g/cm³ (0.672 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 3,422°C (6,192 °F). As Rolled is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Sintered is available on request or by drawing note.
Limitations
- Low strength — 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), worse than 100% of tungsten alloy grades
- Low fracture toughness — 6 MPa·√m (5.46 ksi·√in), worse than 100% of tungsten alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 0.5%, worse than 90% of tungsten alloy grades
- Low stiffness — 350 GPa (50.8 Msi), worse than 86% of tungsten alloy grades
Pure W Sintered properties
Typical room-temperature values for Pure W Sintered — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Pure W temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the tungsten alloy grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Pure W Sintered has a density of 18.6 g/cm³ (0.672 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 3,422°C (6,192 °F).
Mechanical16
Pure W Sintered has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — weaker than 100% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 0.5% and the elastic modulus is 350 GPa (50.8 Msi).
Thermal6
Pure W Sintered is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 140 W/m·K (80.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 52% of tungsten alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Pure W Sintered conducts electricity at 26 % IACS, worse than 57% of tungsten alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), better than 50% of tungsten alloy grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Pure W Sintered takes about 400 MJ of energy and emits 27 kg of CO₂ — more than 74% of tungsten alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
Pure W Sintered's machinability is not recommended (12/100, better than 67% of tungsten alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Pure W tempers and conditions
Pure W is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Pure W overview.
- As RolledDefaultDefault stocked wrought condition for plate, sheet and foil: highest strength and hardness, fibrous texture, minimum room-temperature ductility still usable for flat parts and shielding.700 MPa yield · 38 HRC
- Drawn WireUse for filaments, thermocouple/EDM wire and probe pins: extreme work hardening gives the highest tensile strength of any W form, but it recrystallizes and embrittles above ~1300 °C.1,700 MPa yield · 52 HRC
- ForgedChoose for thick bar, discs and crucible/electrode blanks where full density and more isotropic properties matter more than peak sheet strength.620 MPa yield · 37 HRC
- Stress RelievedUse when machining/EDM distortion or residual-stress cracking must be avoided while keeping most of the wrought strength and fine grain.550 MPa yield · 35 HRC
- RecrystallizedThe state reached after high-temperature service or welding: softest and most brittle at room temperature, chosen only for parts that operate hot and dimensionally stable.400 MPa yield · 33 HRC
- HIPPick for large, complex or additively made W parts needing pore-free, leak-tight, isotropic material without a wrought texture.380 MPa yield · 33 HRC
- As PrintedFor complex collimators, heat sinks and plasma-facing geometries impossible to machine; expect 96–99 % density, solidification microcracking, anisotropy and near-zero ductility — HIP or stress relief is normally added.320 MPa yield · 39 HRC
- SinteredCheapest near-net P/M form for shielding blocks, crucibles and simple electrodes where residual porosity and low strength are acceptable.300 MPa yield · 29 HRC
Working with Pure W Sintered
Is Pure W easy to machine?
Treat as a brittle hard metal: grinding, EDM/wire-EDM and laser cutting are preferred; if turning/milling, use rigid setups, negative-rake carbide or CBN, low speed, heavy flood coolant and preheat 200–400 °C to avoid chipping.
Can Pure W be welded?
Essentially unweldable by arc processes — electron-beam or laser welding in high vacuum with preheat is possible but the weld recrystallizes and becomes brittle; joining is normally by brazing (Ni-, Cu-, Ag-Cu-Ti fillers) or mechanical/diffusion bonding.
Can Pure W be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold forming; roll, swage, forge or bend hot (typically 1000–1500 °C, above the DBTT) with intermediate stress-relief anneals; complex shapes come from powder pressing, CIP+sinter+HIP or LPBF.
What surface finishes work on Pure W?
Not anodizable; grind and lap to a fine finish, then electropolish or acid-clean; for oxidation service above 500 °C apply Si/aluminide, CVD/PVD or Ni/Cr diffusion coatings, and use Ni or Au plating for solderability.
Pure W chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Mo | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| C | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Ohigher in as-sintered and printed material | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Si | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Al | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Ca | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Cr | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Cu | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Mg | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Kdoped (AKS) wire grades intentionally higher | ≤ 0 | 5×10⁻⁴ |
| WPurity on a metallic basis, ASTM B760/GB/T 3875 class | ≥ 99.95 (balance) | — |
Pure W Sintered — frequently asked
What is Pure W Sintered used for?
Pure W Sintered is typically used for X-ray tube anodes, radiation shielding blocks and collimators, GTAW welding electrodes, furnace hot-zone elements and shields, ion- and plasma-facing components and EDM electrodes. In short: high-density tungsten rod.
What is the yield strength of Pure W Sintered?
Pure W Sintered has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — weaker than 100% of tungsten alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Pure W Sintered easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (12/100, better than 67% of tungsten alloy grades). Treat as a brittle hard metal: grinding, EDM/wire-EDM and laser cutting are preferred; if turning/milling, use rigid setups, negative-rake carbide or CBN, low speed, heavy flood coolant and preheat 200–400 °C to avoid chipping.
Can Pure W Sintered be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Essentially unweldable by arc processes — electron-beam or laser welding in high vacuum with preheat is possible but the weld recrystallizes and becomes brittle; joining is normally by brazing (Ni-, Cu-, Ag-Cu-Ti fillers) or mechanical/diffusion bonding.
What surface finishes work on Pure W Sintered?
Not anodizable; grind and lap to a fine finish, then electropolish or acid-clean; for oxidation service above 500 °C apply Si/aluminide, CVD/PVD or Ni/Cr diffusion coatings, and use Ni or Au plating for solderability.
Can Pure W Sintered be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold forming; roll, swage, forge or bend hot (typically 1000–1500 °C, above the DBTT) with intermediate stress-relief anneals; complex shapes come from powder pressing, CIP+sinter+HIP or LPBF.
What is the maximum service temperature of Pure W Sintered?
Pure W Sintered is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Pure W As Rolled and Pure W-HIP?
As Rolled is the default condition — default stocked wrought condition for plate, sheet and foil: highest strength and hardness, fibrous texture, minimum room-temperature ductility still usable for flat parts and shielding. HIP: pick for large, complex or additively made W parts needing pore-free, leak-tight, isotropic material without a wrought texture. Yield strength is 700 MPa in As Rolled versus 380 MPa in HIP.
Can FabDigit make parts in Pure W Sintered?
Yes — Pure W Sintered is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B760 – Tungsten Plate, Sheet and Foil — ASTM (2022)
- ASTM B777 / ASTM B459 tungsten product specifications — ASTM (2020)
- GB/T 3875 / GB/T 4181 — SAC (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Refractory Metals — ASM International (1990)
- Tungsten material properties (sintered, rolled, forged, wire) — Plansee SE (2023)
- Pure tungsten product data — Midwest Tungsten Service (2023)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics — physical constants of W — CRC Press (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.