by Dr David Rowe, Cedar Metals Ltd

The use of tungsten in light bulbs is well known but what about the other uses for tungsten and the other refractory metals?  These metals play an important role in our everyday lives from fuel production, glass, electricity production and distribution, trains, road vehicles and aeroplanes, radio and television, household appliances, computers and telephones.  Almost everything we take for granted today either uses a refractory metal in its construction or has used them in its production. This paper reviews the production, processing and lesser known uses of refractory metals without which society as we know it would cease to exist.