Tungsten-Copper-Machining

The principal Tungsten/Copper alloys contain from 2% to 45% copper by weight. The addition of copper increases the thermal conductivity of the alloy while reducing the hardness and modulus of rupture.
The machining and grinding characteristics of tungsten/copper alloys are similar to those of hard grey cast iron. Being non-porous, standard water soluble coolants may be used if desired, but are not required. Each machine shop usually has its individual machining or grinding practice and, therefore, the information presented should be considered as a guide only.
Tool: Carballoy, grade 883 or equivalent. Grind tools with 0 deg. rake, 8-12 deg. clearance, and .010" to .025" nose radius. The nose radius can increase with the size of the work. For fine finish, stone small flat on tool parallel to work. Suggest resting stone on work when honing tool.
Turning & Boring: Roughing, approximately .030" deep and .020" per revolution feed. Finishing, .002" to.005" depth of cut and .001" to .002" per revolution feed. Turning speed, 300-500 surface feet per minute. Do not use lubricant or coolant.
Shaping: Tool Speed: 43" per minute for Tungsten-Copper 25% alloy.
Depth of Cut: .030"
Feed: .020" per stroke
Milling: Drilling High Speed steel drills and taps may be used.
Through Tapping: Holes are recommended. Material must be firmly held. Hand feed-lubricant and cutting oil acceptable.
Rough Grinding: Is best done with 80 grit resin bonded wheels of medium hardness; .015" per pass on Tungsten-Copper 25% alloy. Use water or water soluble oil coolant.
Joining: Material may be silver brazed, or copper brazed in a hydrogen atmosphere.
We hope the preceding information will be helpful.

Tungsten Copper Alloy

Midwest Tungsten Service specializes in high quality tungsten copper alloys. We stock alloy as rod, bar, plate and sheet. MTS will custom machine parts to your specifications.

Tungsten copper alloy

Advantages

High arc resistance combined with good electrical conductivity

High thermal conductivity

Low thermal expansion 

Applications

Contacts in high voltage breakers and vacuum interruptors

Electrodes in spark erosion cutting equipment

Heat sinks in electronic devices

Electrodes for resistance welding

Tungsten Copper Machining

The principal Tungsten/Copper alloys contain from 2% to 45% copper by weight. The addition of copper increases the thermal conductivity of the alloy while reducing the hardness and modulus of rupture.

The machining and grinding characteristics of tungsten/copper alloys are similar to those of hard grey cast iron. Being non-porous, standard water soluble coolants may be used if desired, but are not required. Each machine shop usually has its individual machining or grinding practice and, therefore, the information presented should be considered as a guide only.

Tool: Carballoy, grade 883 or equivalent. Grind tools with 0 deg. rake, 8-12 deg. clearance, and .010" to .025" nose radius. The nose radius can increase with the size of the work. For fine finish, stone small flat on tool parallel to work. Suggest resting stone on work when honing tool.

Turning & Boring: Roughing, approximately .030" deep and .020" per revolution feed. Finishing, .002" to.005" depth of cut and .001" to .002" per revolution feed. Turning speed, 300-500 surface feet per minute. Do not use lubricant or coolant.

Shaping: Tool Speed: 43" per minute for Tungsten-Copper 25% alloy.

Depth of Cut: .030"

Feed: .020" per stroke

Milling: Drilling High Speed steel drills and taps may be used.

Through Tapping: Holes are recommended. Material must be firmly held. Hand feed-lubricant and cutting oil acceptable.

Rough Grinding: Is best done with 80 grit resin bonded wheels of medium hardness; .015" per pass on Tungsten-Copper 25% alloy. Use water or water soluble oil coolant.

Joining: Material may be silver brazed, or copper brazed in a hydrogen atmosphere.

Tungsten Copper Heat Sinks

They are composites of tungsten and copper. By adjusting the content of tungsten, we can have its coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) designed to match those of materials such as ceramics (Al2O3, BeO), semiconductors (Si), and metals (Kovar), etc.

Our products are widely used in applications such as optoelectronics packages, Microwave Packages, C Packages, Laser Submounts, etc.

Advantages

High thermal conductivity

Excellent hermeticity

Excellent flatness, surface finish, and size control

Semi-finished or finished (Ni/Au plated) products available

Copper Tungsten is one of the most popular refractory metal based heat sink materials offered today. With the new off-the-shelf system, we are able to offer standard products with a short lead-time at extremely competitive rates.

Copper Tungsten Alloys-Refractory Metal Composites

Eagle refractory metal composite materials are a combination of tungsten or tungsten carbide combined with copper or silver. The manufacturing process is to press the refractory (tungsten or tungsten carbide), sinter the pressed compact at a high temperature, and infiltrate with copper or silver. All this is done under very closely controlled conditions. The result is a relatively hard materials with superior arc and wear resistance, high physical properties at elevated temperatures, and good electrical and thermal conductivity.

Copper Tungsten and Tungsten Carbide Copper

Mi-Tech Metals’ copper tungsten alloys are commonly used in EDM electrodes and other electrical and electrical/thermal applications. They are also used for facing and inserts for flash and butt welding dies, projection welding electrodes, seam welding bearing inserts and facing for electro-forming and electro-forging dies.

Although they are somewhat more difficult to machine, tungsten carbide copper materials provide high mechanical properties and excellent resistance to erosion. They are commonly used in oil devices to protect the contact from oxidation.

To learn more about which copper tungsten alloy is best for your application, refer to the composite properties chart or contact a Mi-Tech Metals professional.

Note: Our CW70E, CW75 and CW80 materials are readily available in various stocked sizes of rods and flat bars.

What Is Tungsten Copper Used For

Properties
Tungsten-copper materials conduct heat efficiently without the excessive expansion that would present problems when mounted to other materials. Copper by itself has high thermal expansion properties, making it unsuitable for such applications unless combined with a material such as tungsten.
Powder Form
Tungsten and copper do not form an alloy because their melting temperatures are very different. The composite material is instead made by mixing metal powders. They are then heated and injected into a mold for heat-sink manufacture.
Heat Sinks
Heat sinks are used to conduct heat away from computer chips and integrated circuits, preventing thermal damage. Depending on the electronic device, heat sinks come in different sizes and shapes. Tungsten-copper composites, with copper content (by weight) of 15 to 20 percent, are often used to make heat sinks.