EN | DE
Request a Quote
Home › Materials › Tungsten vs Steel
Materials

Tungsten Heavy Alloy vs Steel: Density and Application

Tungsten heavy alloys exist for one dominant reason: density. At roughly twice the density of steel, they pack mass into a small envelope where steel simply cannot.

Request a Quote
Side-by-side

Comparison

PropertyTungsten heavy alloySteel (1018)
Density~17–18.5 g/cm³~7.85 g/cm³
Mass per volume~2.2× steelbaseline
Hardness / wearHighModerate
MachinabilityDifficult (abrasive, tough)Easy
Typical useCounterweights, radiation shielding, ballast, vibration dampingGeneral structural parts
Decision guide

How to decide

  • Choose tungsten heavy alloy when mass, radiation attenuation or vibration damping per unit volume is the requirement.
  • Choose steel when normal structural strength and easy machining are enough and weight is not the point.
  • Where a steel part is too light but space is fixed, tungsten alloy is usually the direct answer.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

No. It is a tungsten-based composite with nickel-iron or nickel-copper binders, which is what makes it machinable at all - pure tungsten is extremely brittle.
It is both abrasive and tough, so tools wear quickly. Dedicated tooling and controlled parameters are essential.
Counterweights, radiation shielding, ballast and vibration-damping masses - anywhere density solves the problem.
Keep reading
All Materials · Resource Center · Material Verification · Request a Quote
↑