Is it possible to weld tungsten?
Welding tungsten is possible—but it’s one of the most difficult metals to join.
Yes, tungsten can be welded, but it requires high temperatures, inert gas shielding, and specialized techniques due to its high melting point and brittleness.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the challenges of welding tungsten, what to avoid, and how Prime supports clients with precision tungsten components for industrial applications.
Can I weld tungsten?
Tungsten is weldable—but only under very controlled conditions.
You can weld tungsten, but it requires TIG welding in a high-purity argon environment and careful heat control.
What makes tungsten welding so challenging
- Melting point is 3,422°C—the highest of all metals
- Becomes brittle when overheated or oxidized
- Cracks easily without proper preheat and cooling
| Welding Method | Suitability for Tungsten | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TIG Welding | Best choice | Pure tungsten filler, inert shielding |
| Laser Welding | Precise, low heat zone | Works for small tungsten components |
| MIG or Stick | Not recommended | Too much heat, poor control |
At Prime, we rarely weld tungsten directly. Instead, we use CNC零件精准加工 or brazing for joining tungsten parts in sensitive assemblies.
What two metals cannot be welded together?
Not all metals get along. Some combinations simply don’t fuse well.
Aluminum and steel cannot be easily welded together due to differences in melting points, expansion rates, and chemical properties.
Why some metals resist welding
- Dissimilar metals form brittle intermetallics
- Different thermal expansion causes cracking
- Some metals oxidize rapidly under heat
| Metal Combination | Welding Compatibility | Why It’s Problematic |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum + Steel | Not weldable directly | Forms brittle Fe-Al compounds |
| Copper + Titanium | Very poor compatibility | Reacts poorly under heat |
| Magnesium + Stainless Steel | Not weldable | Requires mechanical fastening or brazing |
At Prime, we often advise clients to avoid welding dissimilar metals and instead use mechanical joining or advanced bonding techniques to maintain integrity.
Is tungsten hard to forge?
Tungsten is extremely tough—even before it cools. Forging it requires extreme force and temperature.
Yes, tungsten is very hard to forge. It needs to be worked at high temperatures, typically over 1,600°C, and it resists deformation.
Why forging tungsten is rare
- Requires specialized furnaces
- Low ductility leads to cracking
- Needs constant heating to avoid brittleness
| Forging Property | Tungsten’s Behavior |
|---|---|
| Workability | Very low at room temperature |
| Heat Requirement | Extremely high |
| Fracture Resistance | Low when not preheated properly |
We don’t forge tungsten at Prime. Instead, we use sintering, machining, and grinding to produce tight-tolerance tungsten components for critical industries like energy, aerospace, and electronics.
Is thoriated tungsten banned?
Thoriated tungsten contains radioactive thorium—raising safety and regulatory concerns in many countries.
Thoriated tungsten is not fully banned globally, but it is restricted or discouraged in many regions due to its low-level radioactivity.
Safer alternatives to thoriated tungsten
- 2% ceriated tungsten (for low amp AC/DC welding)
- 2% lanthanated tungsten (most similar performance)
- Zirconiated tungsten (for AC aluminum welding)
| Tungsten Type | Radioactive? | Common Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Thoriated (WT20) | Yes | DC welding of steel |
| Ceriated (WC20) | No | General-purpose alternative |
| Lanthanated (WL20) | No | High-performance DC welding |
At Prime, we encourage clients and suppliers to switch to lanthanated tungsten electrodes when possible, especially for global compliance and workplace safety.
Conclusion
Tungsten can be welded, but it’s extremely difficult. Use proper technique, materials, and safety standards.
Working with tungsten or other hard-to-machine metals? Contact Shandong Prime International Trade Co., Ltd. today. We offer custom machining, brazing, and ISO-certified metal part production for demanding industries. Get in touch for free technical advice, quotes, and global delivery.
