TUNGSTEN

Dull gray powder or hard, brittle, steel-gray to white metal. Difficult to melt. Mp: 3410°C; bp; 5900°C. Density: 19.3 g/cm3. Used in alloys, light bulb filaments, and cutting tools.

Tungsten Dust (for example, from grinding) may present a moderate fire hazard if allowed to accumulate and exposed to an ignition source.

none

No rapid reaction with air. No rapid reaction with water.

Excerpt from 170 [Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)]:

May react violently or explosively on contact with water. Some are transported in flammable liquids. May be ignited by friction, heat, sparks or flames. Some of these materials will burn with intense heat. Dusts or fumes may form explosive mixtures in air. Containers may explode when heated. May re-ignite after fire is extinguished. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Tungsten:

Exposure Routes: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Symptoms: Irritation eyes, skin, respiratory system; diffuse pulmonary fibrosis; loss of appetite, nausea, cough; blood changes

Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, blood (NIOSH, 2023)

TUNGSTEN is stable at room temperature. Very slowly attacked by nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and aqua regia. Dissolved by a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid. No reaction with aqueous bases. Attacked rapidly by molten alkaline melts such as Na2O2 or KNO3/NaOH. Vigorous reactions with bromine trifluoride and chlorine trifluoride. Becomes incandescent upon heating with lead oxide; becomes incandescent in cold fluorine and with iodine pentafluoride. Combustible in the form of finely divided powder and may ignite spontaneously.

• Metals, Less Reactive

No information available.

Excerpt from 170 [Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 50 meters (160 feet).

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from 170 [Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)]:

DO NOT USE WATER, FOAM OR CO2. Dousing metallic fires with water will generate hydrogen gas, an extremely dangerous explosion hazard, particularly if fire is in a confined environment (i.e., building, cargo hold, etc.). Use DRY sand, graphite powder, dry sodium chloride-based extinguishers, or class D extinguishers. Confining and smothering metal fires is preferable rather than applying water. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: If impossible to extinguish, protect surroundings and allow fire to burn itself out. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from 170 [Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Tungsten:

Skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for personal protective equipment for the body.

Eyes: No recommendation is made specifying the need for eye protection.

Wash skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for washing the substance from the skin (either immediately or at the end of the work shift).

Remove: No recommendation is made specifying the need for removing clothing that becomes wet or contaminated.

Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the workshift. (NIOSH, 2023)

No information available.

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Tungsten:

Eye: IRRIGATE IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately.

Skin: SOAP WASH - If this chemical contacts the skin, wash the contaminated skin with soap and water.

Breathing: FRESH AIR - If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. Other measures are usually unnecessary.

Swallow: MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention immediately. (NIOSH, 2023)

• B 10
• B 10 (METAL)
• BIO
• BIO (METAL)
• C 50H
• D 100
• D 100 (METAL)
• D 20
• D 20 (METAL)
• GE-U 10-4795
• 5N-W
• SG 50W
• TUNGSTEN
• TUNGSTEN ELEMENT
• TUNGSTEN METAL
• VA
• VA (TUNGSTEN)
• VENTRON 00620
• W 3KD
• W 3N8
• WOLFRAM