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1999 | Buch

Tungsten

Properties, Chemistry, Technology of the Element, Alloys, and Chemical Compounds

verfasst von: Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert

Verlag: Springer US

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SUCHEN

Über dieses Buch

Why does someone write a book about Tungsten? There are several reasons and precedents for this, the most important of which is that the last book on tungsten was written more than 20 years ago, in 1977, by St. W H. Yih and Ch T. Wang. During the intervening period there have been many new scientific and technological developments and innova­ tions, so it was not only our opinion but the view of many other members of the "tungsten family" that it was time to start writing a new book about tungsten. Preparations of the new book began in 1994. further impetus to the project was provided by the realization that in spite of this new knowledge having been presented at seminars or published in the technical press, a general acknowledgement of it by the majority of technicians and scientists is still far from being realized. It is our hope that this book will significantly contribute to a broader acceptance of recent scientific and technological innovations. An important prerequisite for such a project is the availability of a recently retired, experienced person willing to devote his time and talents to the tedious part of the exercise.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter
1. The Element Tungsten
Its Properties
Abstract
Tungsten is a metallic transition element.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
2. Tungsten History
From Genesis to the 20th Century Products
Abstract
Articles concerned with tungsten history usually start by describing the discovery of tungsten ores, compounds, and the element. In reality, however, the history of tungsten began with the formation of the tungsten atoms, a very long time ago.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
3. Important Aspects of Tungsten Chemistry
Abstract
Tungsten’s sensitivity toward oxygen restricts its high-temperature application to protecting atmospheres or vacuum only.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
4. Tungsten Compounds and Their Application
Abstract
The chapter starts with a summary of the tungsten compounds with metallic elements (intermetallic compounds), and is followed by a more or less detailed description (depending on the importance of the respective compound) of the tungsten compounds with nonmetallic elements in sequence from the 14th to the 17th group of the Periodic Table. Because of the extremely large number of corresponding compounds known, mixed ligand compounds and coordination compounds as well as organometallics are treated only in general in the last two sections.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
5. Industrial Production
Abstract
Tungsten mines are relatively small and rarely produce more than 2000 t of ore per day. Mining is mainly limited by the size of the ore bodies, which are not very large. Open pit- mining is the exception. These mines are short-lived and soon convert to underground operations.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
6. Tungsten Alloys
Abstract
A large number of tungsten alloys and composites were investigated in the past, but only some of them achieved technical importance. However, these are of significant commercial interest and will be discussed in the following sections. Alloys derived from melting metallurgy, such as ferrotungsten, melting base, steels, superalloys, and stellites, as well as the large group of cemented carbides, are not discussed here but will be treated in Chapters 8 and 9.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
7. Tungsten and Tungsten Alloy Products
Abstract
Besides tungsten metal, only those alloys which were described in Chapter 6 are treated in this chapter. Alloys produced by melting metallurgy as well as the cemented carbides hardmetals) and their application are treated in Chapters 8 and 9, respectively.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
8. Tungsten in Melting Metallurgy
Abstract
At the beginning of the 20th century steel was the biggest tungsten consumer. Since the development of cemented carbides in 1927, the proportion of total tungsten consumed in steelmaking has fallen progressively to the current value of 22%. Nevertheless, steel is today still the second largest tungsten consumer.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
9. Tungsten in Hardmetals
Abstract
Cemented carbides represent a group of hard and wear-resistant refractory composites in which hard carbide particles are bound together or are “cemented” by a ductile and tough binder matrix. Although the term “cemented carbide” is still widely used, mainly in English-speaking countries, and well describes the nature of the composite, they are even better known internationally as “hardmetals.” The latter term will be used in the following.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
10. Tungsten in Catalysis
Abstract
Tungsten alloyed with nickel, cobalt, or rhodium in thin layers on alumina supports, also sulfided, is used on an industrial scale as a catalyst in crude oil processing (hydrotreating, hydrocracking, reforming, hydrodesulfurization, and hydrodenitrogenation), as well as in Fischer—Tropsch synthesis (alcohol formation from CO + H2).
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
11. Tungsten Scrap Recycling
Abstract
The recycling of scrap containing tungsten is by no means a modern procedure. On the contrary, it has been established for many decades. Even before anyone thought about recycling of glass, paper, and aluminum—as is common today in most industrialized countries—a considerable amount of tungsten was being reclaimed from different types of scrap. The reason can be easily explained: As outlined in Chapter 2, most tungsten ores contain less than 1 wt% WO3 and very seldom higher concentrations. In Table 11.1, different types of scrap containing tungsten and the corresponding tungsten contents are listed. It is evident that the least valuable scrap, like low-grade grinding sludge, contains about 15 times more tungsten than an average ore. Most scrap materials are even richer in tungsten than ore concentrates.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
12. Ecology
Abstract
In general, the production of a metal, its use, and the manner in which it is discarded influence the ecology more or less. These aspects grew in importance due to the steady increase in environmental awareness during the last decades. Although this awareness is more pronounced in the industrialized countries, its worldwide acceptance will be a necessity in the near future.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
13. Economy
Abstract
Tungsten’s economy was generally ruled by the supply/demand situation, which itself was a consequence of the world’s general economic situation. Booming industry was always associated with enhanced tungsten consumption and mine production as well as with the search for new deposits. Times of general recession always showed minimum of the consumption combined with mine closures. Wars reflected situations of highest industrial activity and always maximum of consumption and prices.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
14. Tungsten and Living Organisms
Abstract
Metals play a very important role in the metabolism of living organisms. Ninety-six elements form the earth’s crust, of which 22 are essential for life. Within the essential elements for humans we distinguish three overlapping groups (Table 14.1), the most numerous consisting of metals which are found in only low concentrations in living beings. By “low” we mean, for example, that the total amount of an element in the body of an adult human ranges, depending on the element, between one gram and some milligrams. The low concentration is the reason why some of the essential elements have been discovered to be essential by deficiency reactions of patients receiving long-term parenteral nutrition, and today we cannot be sure of knowing all the essential elements.
Erik Lassner, Wolf-Dieter Schubert
Backmatter
Metadaten
Titel
Tungsten
verfasst von
Erik Lassner
Wolf-Dieter Schubert
Copyright-Jahr
1999
Verlag
Springer US
Electronic ISBN
978-1-4615-4907-9
Print ISBN
978-1-4613-7225-7
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4907-9