Importance of refractory metals
These elements display several of the characteristic properties of refractory metals that have made them and their alloys so valuable in a wide range of industrial applications. These include high melting point, high density and exceptional resistance to wear and tear and to various forms of corrosion.
Tungsten Rod and its uses
Tungsten rod, the powdered form of the metal, and various alloys are now being used in a growing range of applications. With its incredibly high melting point of around 3410 °C, it is, for example, the ideal choice of material from which to construct the containers and related equipment necessary for the smelting of other metals.
Sintered refractory metals
An alternative means by which to fashion materials into some desired form, sintering makes use of heat and pressure to compact and bind particles together without the need to actually liquefy them. The use of this type of procedure is particularly valuable in the case of elements such as tungsten.
Management of arcing between electrical contacts
There are a variety of techniques in use to supress the tendency for arcing to occur between contacts. One approach makes use of a “snubber”, a device consisting of a small resistor and capacitor connected in series that acts to prevent the rapid rise in voltage that can lead to the formation of an arc.