Tungsten is not commonly used as a heating element due to several significant challenges.
Why Tungsten is Not Used as a Heating Element? 4 Key Reasons Explained
1. Oxidation and Embrittlement
Tungsten oxidizes in air starting around 500°C.
This process accelerates above 1200°C.
Rapid oxidation degrades the material and compromises its structural integrity.
Tungsten is unsuitable for use in open air environments where heating elements are typically exposed to oxygen.
Tungsten is prone to embrittlement, which can lead to mechanical failure under thermal and mechanical stresses.
This susceptibility requires careful temperature control and protective atmospheres, complicating its use and increasing operational costs.
2. Fabrication Challenges
Pure tungsten is notoriously difficult to machine and fabricate.
It has a high ductile-to-brittle transition temperature.
Below a certain temperature, tungsten becomes brittle and prone to cracking or shattering.
This complicates the manufacturing process.
Tungsten's brittleness at low temperatures makes it challenging to work with, requiring specialized techniques and equipment.
Tungsten cannot be easily drawn or extruded into tubes, common forms for heating elements, without specialized and costly processes.
3. Operational Considerations
The use of tungsten heating elements requires a controlled environment.
Typically, this is under vacuum or in a protective gas atmosphere.
This requirement adds significant complexity and cost to the operation of furnaces and other heating systems.
It makes tungsten less practical compared to materials that can withstand oxidation and do not require such stringent environmental controls.
4. Specialized Applications
Despite these challenges, tungsten is used in specialized applications where its unique properties are indispensable.
For instance, in vacuum electron devices and metal injection molding furnaces, tungsten's properties are crucial for achieving the necessary performance.
However, for general heating applications, the drawbacks of tungsten outweigh its benefits.
This leads to the preference for other materials like nichrome or molybdenum disilicide, which offer better resistance to oxidation and are easier to work with.
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