Magnetic Tungsten Beads ???????

[tupps]

I ordered quite a large batch of tungsten beads before Christmas and nhave found that they are attracted to a magnet.

It certainly makes them easier to retrieve from the carpet but does this mean that in fact they have quite a lot of iron impurities in ?

Would you check yours please and let me know. Thank you

Pure tungsten is not attracted to magnets according to references I have found.

[garyj]

You are correct, Tungsten is non-magnetic when pure but for commercial purposes it will be mixed with other minerals including Iron and bonding agents to keep cost down.

Gary

[tupps]

Thanks for that Gary ......... my tungsten dart are not attracted !

[jindra]

The technique they use to produce Tungsten beads is mixing very finely ground Tungsten with some iron; then melting the iron and pressing the mixture into desired shape.

It is very difficult to process pure tungsten and this is an adequate compromise. About a year ago I conducted an experiment on directly measuring the density of tungsten beads - Grayling on the Fly: Tungsten Density Experiment - and the differences from pure tungsten were negligible.

J.

[wobbly face]

Hi Rod, I use magnetic boxes to store my beads in and yes the tungsten ones are magnetic which is good. The 1.5mm I can pick up with a magnet on the end of a whip finish tool.

[Frank]

Originally Posted by jindra

The technique they use to produce Tungsten beads is mixing very finely ground Tungsten with some iron; then melting the iron and pressing the mixture into desired shape.

It is very difficult to process pure tungsten and this is an adequate compromise. About a year ago I conducted an experiment on directly measuring the density of tungsten beads - Grayling on the Fly: Tungsten Density Experiment - and the differences from pure tungsten were negligible.

J.

Jindra, thanks really great post.

Frank

[tupps]

Many thanks for the feedback chaps it all makes sense now