Analyzing the Density of Tungsten & Why it is Important

Before choosing material for any application, one of the key things that comes to mind is the properties.

One of the most critical properties of tungsten is density. Just like rusting and melting point, tungsten density determines where you can use this material for any application.

Let’s get right in:

What is the Density of Tungsten?

First, let’s understand what density is:

Density refers to the compactness of a material. That is, how tightly the material particles are packed or compacted together.

Therefore it implies, that the density is a ratio of mass to volume. The SI unit is kg/m³ but you can also express it as g/cm³.

Now, the theoretical density of tungsten varies between 19.254 g/cm³ and 19.28 g/cm³. Of course, you can express this in other units such as approximately 19,300 kg/m³.

In some rare situations, you may also express tungsten density per inch which is 0.697 lb/in³.

But more importantly, the slight fluctuations in density depend on the variation in tungsten deformation.

How to Calculate the Density of Tungsten

The density of materials is based on a calculation where we have:

Therefore, to calculate the density of tungsten, you will measure the mass and volume.

The best part, with the advancement in technology, we have quite several online tungsten density calculators. However, you must know the values of both mass and volume.

Importance of Tungsten High Density

There are many reasons whytungsten’s high density is critical in material science and engineering. Some of the main reasons include:

• Plays an important role where you need higher mass in a small space such as in radiation shielding
• Alloys can achieve higher density without a significant increase in volume
• Density plays an integral role in the tungsten’s higher melting point
• Can withstand high impact and damping vibration

Tungsten Density Comparison

As we had mentioned earlier, tungsten density ranges from 19.254 g/cm³ to 19.28 g/cm³. Maybe for some clarity, we will compare some popular materials that share common properties with tungsten.

As you can see, tungsten is one of those metals with a higher density just like platinum, gold, and osmium. Remember, osmium is the densest material that occurs naturally on the planet.

Uses of Tungsten Due to High Density

First, it is worth mentioning that tungsten is popular for its exceptional mechanical strength. It is a heavy metal you can use in many applications.

Once you know the tungsten density, it will be easier to determine the specific application.

For instance, tungsten is a popular material in most mass-balancing applications. This is because tungsten is one of the heaviest metals that occur naturally.

Additionally, tungsten density makes it a perfect choice for many other applications as an alloying element for high-density metals.

Additionally, tungsten alloys with higher density have replaced materials such as lead and uranium in many applications. For instance, high-density tungsten alloys are a perfect choice for:

• Crankshaft
• Boring bars
• Radiation shielding
• High-temperature tooling
• Electrodes
• Heating elements
• Counterweights in aircrafts
• Grinding, etc.

FAQs

1. Why does Tungsten have High Density?

The high density of tungsten is attributed to the atomic structure. Of course, the chemical and physical properties of tungsten also play an important role here.

Just to highlight:

Tungsten (symbol W) is an element with atomic number 74 and an atomic weight of 183.84. Besides, its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f14 5d4 6s2. Remember, it is also a transitional metal.

Putting this into perspective:

• In a tungsten nucleus, you will find many neutrons and protons which contribute to the high weight.
• There is a tight bond between the tungsten atoms thereby forming a tightly packed crystal structure
• Strong metallic bonds and body-centered cubic crystal structure also contribute to the high density.

2. Is Tungsten the Densest Metal?

Although it is a dense metal, there are other metals with very high densities such as:

3. Is Tungsten a Very Heavy Metal?

With a density of 19.3 g/cm3, you should expect, tungsten to be a heavy metal.

For a clear picture, 1 cm3 of iron weighs about 7 grams while the same volume of tungsten weighs 19 grams. That is, tungsten is three times heavier than iron.

Conclusion

It is quite clear that tungsten is among the few metals with high density. For this reason, tungsten is popular in many demanding industrial applications.

At KDM, we fabricate tungsten parts depending on our client’s requirements. For any inquiries, talk to us now.