Tungsten Alloy WHA-90 · print state · default condition
Tungsten Alloy WHA-90 Sintered
Properties of the Sintered condition, compared with the other WHA-90 tempers.
Standard stocked condition for counterweights, shielding and general machined parts where ASTM B777 Class 1 minimums suffice.
What is WHA-90 Sintered?
WHA-90 Sintered is WHA-90 in the Sintered condition — standard stocked condition for counterweights, shielding and general machined parts where ASTM B777 Class 1 minimums suffice. WHA-90 Sintered has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — weaker than 67% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 350 GPa (50.8 Msi). WHA-90 Sintered has a density of 17 g/cm³ (0.614 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 70 MPa·√m (63.7 ksi·√in), better than 100% of tungsten alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 10%, better than 95% of tungsten alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 25/100, better than 79% of tungsten alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 22 kg CO₂/kg, better than 79% of tungsten alloy grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 350 GPa (50.8 Msi), worse than 86% of tungsten alloy grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 86% of tungsten alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 90 W/m·K (52 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 81% of tungsten alloy grades
WHA-90 Sintered properties
Typical room-temperature values for WHA-90 Sintered — 11 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every WHA-90 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the tungsten alloy grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical2
WHA-90 Sintered has a density of 17 g/cm³ (0.614 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical16
WHA-90 Sintered has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — weaker than 67% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 350 GPa (50.8 Msi).
Thermal4
WHA-90 Sintered is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 90 W/m·K (52 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 81% of tungsten alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 5.1 µm/m·K (2.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WHA-90 Sintered conducts electricity at 15 % IACS, worse than 69% of tungsten alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 86% of tungsten alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WHA-90 Sintered takes about 320 MJ of energy and emits 22 kg of CO₂ — less than 81% of tungsten alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
WHA-90 Sintered's machinability is poor (25/100, better than 79% of tungsten alloy grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other WHA-90 tempers and conditions
WHA-90 is also supplied in 3 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the WHA-90 overview.
- SinteredDefaultStandard stocked condition for counterweights, shielding and general machined parts where ASTM B777 Class 1 minimums suffice.620 MPa yield · 26 HRC
- SwagedUse for high-strength small-diameter rod and penetrator cores where strength and hardness matter more than elongation.1,050 MPa yield · 38 HRC
- HIPedPick when residual porosity must be closed for maximum ductility, toughness and reliable ultrasonic/radiographic acceptance (aerospace balance weights, penetrators).650 MPa yield · 27 HRC
- HTChoose when ductility and impact energy must be restored by removing sintering hydrogen and residual stress, e.g. thin-web machined parts and threaded components.610 MPa yield · 25 HRC
Working with WHA-90 Sintered
Is WHA-90 easy to machine?
Machine like a hard, abrasive cast iron: rigid setup, negative-rake carbide or CBN, low speed (30–60 m/min) with heavy feed, generous coolant; grinding and EDM work well and are preferred for finish tolerances.
Can WHA-90 be welded?
Effectively non-weldable by fusion arc — the W skeleton melts far above the binder and cracks; join by brazing (Ag-Cu, Ni-based fillers), shrink fit, threading or mechanical fastening, with EB/laser only for shallow non-structural seams.
Can WHA-90 be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold sheet forming; parts are pressed and liquid-phase sintered to near-net shape, with rotary swaging or light forging of rod for strength when needed.
What surface finishes work on WHA-90?
Not anodizable; grinding and lapping give mirror finishes, and electroless nickel, chrome plating or epoxy paint is used for corrosion and handling protection.
WHA-90 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| WASTM B777 Class 1 nominal 90 wt% tungsten | 89 – 91 | 90 |
| Nimatrix former, typical Ni:Fe ≈ 7:3 | 6 – 7.6 | 7 |
| Cooptional binder addition in some producer variants | ≤ 1 | — |
| Other (C, O, Mo, Cu)total impurities/trace additions | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Febalance of Ni-Fe binder | ≥ 2.4 (balance) | — |
WHA-90 Sintered — frequently asked
What is WHA-90 Sintered used for?
WHA-90 Sintered is typically used for counterweights, vibration dampers and aerospace ballast. In short: workhorse heavy-metal tungsten.
What is the yield strength of WHA-90 Sintered?
WHA-90 Sintered has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — weaker than 67% of tungsten alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is WHA-90 Sintered easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, better than 79% of tungsten alloy grades). Machine like a hard, abrasive cast iron: rigid setup, negative-rake carbide or CBN, low speed (30–60 m/min) with heavy feed, generous coolant; grinding and EDM work well and are preferred for finish tolerances.
Can WHA-90 Sintered be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Effectively non-weldable by fusion arc — the W skeleton melts far above the binder and cracks; join by brazing (Ag-Cu, Ni-based fillers), shrink fit, threading or mechanical fastening, with EB/laser only for shallow non-structural seams.
What surface finishes work on WHA-90 Sintered?
Not anodizable; grinding and lapping give mirror finishes, and electroless nickel, chrome plating or epoxy paint is used for corrosion and handling protection.
Can WHA-90 Sintered be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold sheet forming; parts are pressed and liquid-phase sintered to near-net shape, with rotary swaging or light forging of rod for strength when needed.
What is the maximum service temperature of WHA-90 Sintered?
WHA-90 Sintered is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between WHA-90 Sintered and WHA-90 Swaged?
Sintered is the default condition — standard stocked condition for counterweights, shielding and general machined parts where ASTM B777 Class 1 minimums suffice. Swaged: use for high-strength small-diameter rod and penetrator cores where strength and hardness matter more than elongation. Yield strength is 620 MPa in Sintered versus 1,050 MPa in Swaged.
Can FabDigit make parts in WHA-90 Sintered?
Yes — WHA-90 Sintered is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B777 Standard Specification for Tungsten Base, High-Density Metal — ASTM International (2022)
- AMS-T-21014 Tungsten Base, High Density Metal — SAE International (2018)
- Densimet / Inermet tungsten heavy alloy datasheets — Plansee (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Refractory Metals and Alloys — ASM International (1990)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.