Tungsten Mesh- Ideal material for electrodes

Uniformshaped Tungsten Meshes are used as screen or gauze. These are produced in standard metal mesh size range from 0.75mm to 1mm to 2mm diameter with strict tolerances and alpha values (conductive resistance) for uses such as gas detection and thermometry tolerances. Materials are produced using solid state, crystallization and other ultra high purification processes such as sublimation. Custom compositions are also produced for commercial and research applications and for new proprietary technologies.

Tungsten metal has a lustrous and silvery white color and doesn’t occur naturally. It is found in the ore Wolframite which is a tungstate of iron and manganese. It is converted to the trioxide and then reduced to the metal by reduction in hydrogen. Tungsten metal is relatively inert and has resistance to acids and alkalis. It has resistance to attack by oxygen although it reacts with fused oxidizing alkali media. It has high melting point and can be worked with relative ease when pure. Tungsten can be extremely brittle due to the presence of impurities and becomes difficult to fabricate. Tungsten is ideal for use as electric filaments due to its high melting point. Tungsten and its alloys are used in military applications for example, shells and armour, as well as counter-balance materials. Tungsten carbide powder with possible additions of titanium and tantalum carbides along with nickel or cobalt powders are compressed and sintered to produce cemented carbides. These cemented carbides are used to form the tip of cutting and drilling tools or for parts which will be subjected to heavy usage.

Tungsten is used in electrodes, electronic applications, medical devices and vacuum heating elements due to its high melting point and tensile strength at extreme temperatures. Tungsten and Molybdenum elements are produced in both mesh and weave configurations. The mesh and weave heating elements are made from continuous interlocked tungsten or molybdenum wire coils. Each wire moves independently when heated. Interlocked wire coils mean that each element has built-in flexibility. This largely eliminates mechanical and thermal stresses leading to improvement in the life of the element. These elements are manufactured in cylindrical and flat panel designs. Mesh elements consist of individual helix coils of tungsten or molybdenum wire that are threaded together by turning each coil into the adjacent coil making a continuous interlocking mesh pattern over the entire width and length of the element resulting in unmatched thermal performance. Consistency is maintained throughout the construction of each element since the wire diameter for each coil is closely controlled. Conductors are made of the top and bottom ends which are secured with solid strips of tungsten or molybdenum bands. These conductors provide a means of mechanical support for the element. The welding of these bands and tabs is performed under a controlled atmosphere to minimize stresses within the elements.

Individual wires are formed into planar sinuous loops to produce weave elements. The wire diameter, height and pitch of the bends are controlled as required to produce the optimum weave element design. A hair-pin wire is connected together with the individual wires passing through alternating loops similar to a cloth fabric weave to securely lock the wires together. The individual wires are free to move and adapt to the thermal environment. The weave is an alternative to the mesh construction technique. The ends are terminated in the same way as the mesh elements.