The metal that is harder to melt is tungsten (W), which has the highest melting point of all pure metals at 6192°F (3422°C). This high melting point makes tungsten particularly challenging to melt under normal conditions and requires specialized equipment like sintering furnaces capable of reaching extremely high temperatures.
Explanation:
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High Melting Point of Tungsten: Tungsten's melting point is significantly higher than most other metals. This property makes it a refractory metal, meaning it is resistant to heat and wear. The high melting point of tungsten is a result of its strong metallic bonds, which require a tremendous amount of energy to break.
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Specialized Melting Processes: Due to its high melting point, tungsten cannot be melted using standard industrial furnaces. Instead, it requires sintering furnaces that are designed to reach and maintain temperatures in the range of thousands of degrees Fahrenheit. These furnaces must also provide high degrees of temperature control and heating uniformity to ensure the tungsten is melted properly without causing damage to the material or the furnace itself.
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Sintering vs. Melting: While melting involves heating a metal to the point where it transitions from a solid to a liquid state, sintering is a process where metals are heated to a point below their melting temperatures to bond them together. This process is particularly useful for metals with high melting points like tungsten, as it allows for the creation of strong bonds without the need to fully liquefy the metal.
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Application in Powder Metallurgy: In powder metallurgy, tungsten is often used in the form of powder and sintered with other metals like nickel to form alloys. This process reduces the overall sintering temperature required, making it more feasible to work with tungsten in industrial applications.
In summary, tungsten's extreme melting point necessitates the use of specialized melting techniques and equipment, highlighting its status as one of the hardest metals to melt. This property also makes tungsten a valuable material in high-temperature applications and in the field of powder metallurgy.
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