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Tungsten (W, atomic number 74) has the highest melting point of all the elements, melting at 3,422°C (6,192°F or 3,695 K), which is a long way above rhenium (3,182°C) or tantalum (3,017°C).
This thermal resistance is due to its body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure and very high-strength metallic bonds, and is necessitating its use in high-heat conditions when demand in aerospace and defense surges dramatically as of 2026.
More recent certified measurements by Guinness World Records show that there is no metallic element known to be any faster than this despite the accelerating research of hypersonic and fusion.
Top 10 Metals by Melting Point
| Rank | Metal | Melting Point (°C) | Key Uses |
| 1 | Tungsten | 3,422 | Furnaces, aerospace |
| 2 | Rhenium | 3,182 | Jet engines, catalysts |
| 3 | Tantalum | 3,017 | Capacitors, alloys |
| 4 | Molybdenum | 2,623 | Missiles, tools |
| 5 | Niobium | 2,477 | Superalloys |
| 6 | Iridium | 2,446 | Spark plugs |
| 7 | Osmium | 3,033 | Pens, pacemakers |
| 8 | Titanium | 1,668 | Aircraft |
| 9 | Nickel | 1,455 | Batteries |
| 10 | Iron | 1,538 | Steel |
What are Tungsten’s Atomic Structure and Thermal Properties?
The advantage of tungsten is due to:
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High BCC Packing: The electrons per atom are 15 which help to form high interatomic forces.
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High Boiling Point: 5,930°C, which means that it can be used in vacuum furnaces.
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Density: 19.25 g/cm3 (approaches that of gold) and tensile strength is comparable to red-hot steel.
In contrast to carbon allotropes (e.g. graphite melts at 3,825°C), tungsten is a genuine metal that does not undergo phase transitions on the way to the melting point.
Important Industrial Uses
Green tech and Defense demand is off the scale:
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Furnaces/X-ray Tubes: Crucibles resist above 3,000degC.
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Light Bulbs: Filaments (replaced by LEDs but old standard).
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Aerospace: Nozzles, rocket throats (SpaceX/DRDO use).
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Military: Armor piercing rounds (depleted uranium substitute).
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Electronics: TIG welding electrodes, semiconductors.
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China (85% production) places strains on 2026 supply chains.
Read more: Which Mountain Is Known as the Third Pole of the Earth?
Extraction and Challenges
Refined through soda ash leaching and reduction by hydrogen, mined out of wolframite/scheelite ores (China >60% reserves). EV/military booms are linked to price volatility (4-6 lakh/tonne); 30% supply is recycled.
Such alloys as W-Ni-Fe are more machinable and retain heat resistance.
With US-China hostilities, tungsten has been raised in geopolitics as a component in hypersonics (Mach 5 + vehicles) and ITER fusion reactors. India increases production through Nagaland mines; EU considers African diversification. There are no feasible alternatives to it in terms of synthetics and this makes it an industrial crown jewel.
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