Tungsten is not commonly used in heating devices due to its high ductile-to-brittle transition temperature, which makes it difficult to work with and prone to breakage at low temperatures. Additionally, tungsten oxidizes in air at elevated temperatures, necessitating a protective gas atmosphere for welding and heating applications.
Summary of Answer: Tungsten is not used in heating devices primarily because it becomes brittle at low temperatures and oxidizes in air at high temperatures, making it challenging to work with and requiring special handling conditions.
Detailed Explanation:
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Brittleness at Low Temperatures: Tungsten has a ductile-to-brittle transition temperature that is usually higher than room temperature. This means that below a certain temperature, tungsten transitions from being ductile (able to be drawn into wires or hammered into thin sheets) to being brittle (prone to breaking or shattering). This property makes tungsten difficult to machine and shape, especially in typical room temperature environments where it behaves more like glass than a metal.
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Oxidation at High Temperatures: Tungsten oxidizes in air at temperatures starting around 500°C and this process accelerates above 1200°C. Oxidation can lead to material degradation and failure, especially in heating elements where maintaining structural integrity is crucial. Therefore, when tungsten is used in heating applications, it often requires a protective gas atmosphere or a vacuum to prevent oxidation, which adds complexity and cost to the heating device.
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Challenges in Fabrication: The difficulty in machining and fabricating tungsten due to its high ductile-to-brittle transition temperature also contributes to its limited use in heating devices. Traditional machining tools like diamond tools are ineffective for pure tungsten, and the material cannot be easily drawn or extruded into tubes. This makes the production of tungsten heating elements more costly and technically challenging compared to other materials like stainless steel or resistance wire.
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Alternative Materials: For many heating applications, alternative materials such as stainless steel tubes or resistance wires are preferred due to their lower maximum operating temperatures, ease of fabrication, and resistance to oxidation. These materials are more suitable for general heating applications where the temperatures do not exceed 650 degrees Celsius, making them more practical and cost-effective for widespread use in heating devices.
In conclusion, while tungsten possesses unique properties such as high melting point and good thermal stability, its brittleness at low temperatures and propensity to oxidize at high temperatures make it less suitable for general heating applications. These challenges necessitate specialized handling and conditions, which increase the complexity and cost of using tungsten in heating devices.
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