Tungsten

Tungsten (W) holds the distinction of having the highest melting point of any metal at 3,422°C and the lowest vapour pressure of all elements at high temperature. These properties make it uniquely suited to extreme-temperature and high-wear applications in automotive engineering. In combustion engines, tungsten carbide is used for valve seat inserts and wear-resistant coatings, where its hardness (9.5 on the Mohs scale) vastly extends component life under repetitive impact. Tungsten heavy alloys are employed as counterweights in crankshafts and balance shafts, where their very high density (up to 18.8 g/cm³) allows small, precisely positioned masses to achieve the required rotating balance — critical in high-revving engines. In motorsport, tungsten ballast weights are standard practice, allowing engineers to place significant mass in precise chassis locations without consuming valuable packaging space. Tungsten is also used in welding electrodes (TIG/GTAW), electrical contacts, and — as tungsten disulfide — as a dry lubricant film in precision bearing surfaces. China dominates global production with approximately 80% of supply, raising procurement risk concerns for European and North American manufacturers.