It’s used as electrodes for TIG welding torches. It was originally specified for aerospace and nuclear welding jobs because it’s really durable and handles heat well. And then it became popular everywhere else for the same reasons.
Now it’s supposed to be used less, but a lot of guys still like it for its consistency. If you don’t grind it to sharpen it it’s pretty safe to handle. So you can get pre ground electrodes for high end welding work.
Even though the radioactivity would be negligible, it would still be toxic as a heavy metal. Tungsten is definitely the way to go here.
Unless it’s thoriated tungsten anyway.
Thorium->Radium->Radon->Polonium->Lead (I think?)
Why would tungsten be thoriated? Is it an impurity which is hard to remove, or is it intentionally added for some specific purpose?
It’s used as electrodes for TIG welding torches. It was originally specified for aerospace and nuclear welding jobs because it’s really durable and handles heat well. And then it became popular everywhere else for the same reasons.
Now it’s supposed to be used less, but a lot of guys still like it for its consistency. If you don’t grind it to sharpen it it’s pretty safe to handle. So you can get pre ground electrodes for high end welding work.
Cool, TIL! How much is generally added? Is it a trace amount or a substantial fraction?
Looks like only 1-2% by weight.