What are heating elements with tungsten?

Heating elements made with tungsten are used in various high-temperature applications due to tungsten’s exceptional properties, such as its high melting point, excellent strength at high temperatures, and low vapor pressure. Here are some common types of heating elements that utilize tungsten:

1. Tungsten Wire Heating Elements: Tungsten wire is commonly used as a heating element in applications such as incandescent light bulbs, where it serves as the filament that heats up and produces light when an electric current passes through it. Tungsten wire heating elements are also used in industrial furnaces, ovens, and heating systems that require high-temperature operation.

2. Tungsten Ribbon Heating Elements: Tungsten ribbon, which is a flat and wide form of tungsten wire, is used in heating elements for applications that require a larger surface area for heat generation. Tungsten ribbon heating elements are used in various industrial heating processes, including heat treatment, annealing, and metal melting.

3. Tungsten Foil Heating Elements: Tungsten foil, which is a thin and flexible form of tungsten, is used in specialized heating elements for applications that require precise and uniform heating. Tungsten foil heating elements are used in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, and defense.

4. Tungsten Disilicide (WSi2) Heating Elements: Tungsten disilicide heating elements are composed of a compound of tungsten and silicon, offering high-temperature resistance and excellent oxidation resistance. These heating elements are used in high-temperature furnaces, kilns, and other industrial heating applications.

Overall, heating elements made with tungsten are valued for their ability to withstand extreme temperatures, provide efficient heat generation, and maintain structural integrity in demanding high-temperature environments. These elements find application in a wide range of industrial, commercial, and scientific heating processes.

Tungsten is known for its exceptional resistance to reaction with most elements at normal temperatures. This high level of chemical inertness is due to its strong atomic bonds and the formation of a protective oxide layer on its surface. However, tungsten can react with certain elements under specific conditions:

1. Oxygen: Tungsten can react with oxygen at high temperatures to form tungsten oxides. This reaction occurs at elevated temperatures, typically above 700°C, where tungsten can oxidize to form oxides such as tungsten trioxide (WO3) and tungsten dioxide (WO2).

2. Halogens: Tungsten can react with halogens such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine at high temperatures to form tungsten halides. These reactions typically occur under extreme conditions and are not common in everyday applications.

3. Carbon: Tungsten can react with carbon at very high temperatures to form tungsten carbide (WC), a hard and wear-resistant material. This reaction is often exploited in the production of tungsten carbide for cutting tools and other industrial applications.

In general, tungsten’s reactivity with most elements is minimal under normal conditions, making it highly resistant to corrosion and chemical attack. This property makes tungsten valuable in a wide range of applications where chemical inertness and high-temperature stability are essential.