Tungsten (symbol W, atomic number 74) is a metal built for extremes. Where heat, friction and pressure would defeat most materials, tungsten holds its shape, strength, and precision, performing reliably in the most demanding conditions.
Its name carries some history. Medieval European miners found that a troublesome mineral interfered with the tin they were smelting and called it wolfram, the source of tungsten's chemical symbol, W. Today the name comes from the Swedish tung sten, ‘heavy stone’ – a well-suited description for a metal nearly as dense as gold.
That density is matched by exceptional endurance. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal, at about 3,422 °C, and maintains its strength under extreme thermal and mechanical stress. Dense, hard, and dimensionally stable, it holds its form where other materials warp, wear or fail.
Tungsten helped light the modern age as the filament in the electric light bulb. Today it works in more specialized roles such as high-performance cutting tools, aerospace and defense components. Because tungsten is extremely difficult to melt and cast, it is usually shaped through powder metallurgy, where fine powders are blended, pressed and heated into highly durable components.
Tungsten is among the most resilient materials available to engineers, a metal that holds its form and function where others can’t.Â
Tungsten at a glance
Unrivaled heat resistance
With the highest melting point of any element at about 3,422 °C, tungsten remains stable in extreme environments that would destroy most other materials.Â
Exceptional density and strength
It holds its shape under intense pressure, heat, and friction, making it indispensable where precision cannot be compromised.
Specialized processing
Unlike most metals, tungsten is produced through powder metallurgy, with fine powders pressed and sintered into highly durable components.
A critical raw material
Increasingly important for high-tech sectors such as semiconductors, energy transition technologies, and aerospace.