Expanding Applications of Tungsten

The value of tungsten is rising. In 2021 the global tungsten market was valued at $4.41 billion and it is expected to reach $8.81 billion by 2029. Growing industries including automotive, aerospace, electronics and most recently medical, have a high demand for wear-resistant materials, driving the increase in the tungsten market value.

What is tungsten? Tungsten is a chemical element with the symbol W and the atomic number 74. It is dense and has the highest melting point and lowest vapor pressure of all metals. The qualities of tungsten make it a highly resistant metal and provide an opportunity for a variety of applications.

Tungsten is most commonly used in electronic and electrical components such as electron emitters, lead-in wires and electrical contacts. In many electronics such as cell phones, it is used as an interconnective material for integrated circuits. It can be found in mobile phone hardware parts such as speakers and microphones as well as software components such as computer chips. It is also used in the fabrication of carbides, which are commonly used as cutting tools, drill bits, and for other high-strength and high-temperature applications. The relentless properties of tungsten make it popular in wear-resistant coatings for parts subject to high heat and tension.

The application of tungsten has evolved and expanded into different industries, including growing discoveries of tungsten advantages in the medical field. Both its high melting point and resistance to breaking down under tension have medical applications such as electrosurgery, cauterization, neural probes and radiology. Many medical devices used in surgical cases where procession is critical and electric current is utilized are manufactured using tungsten. The metal’s resistance to breaking down under tension proves an asset in operations such as neural probing and brain surgery that rely on tungsten probes to be extremely thin while retaining structure. There is also a demand for tungsten in radiology. When used in an X-Ray machine, tungsten can target a specific target while ensuring protection to the surrounding area.

The versatile use of tungsten and its wear-resistant properties drive high demand for the metal in many industries. With an expected CAGR of 8% through 2025, we will be watching closely as new applications or tungsten are discovered and the metal expands into even more industries.