+ What is tungsten?

If you want a striking conversation piece, the finishing touch to your element collection or to surprise your colleagues with a gift which epitomizes tenacity, durability and toughness, you want tungsten metal cubes with periodic engraving!

Tungsten, also known as wolfram because it is commonly found in the ore wolframite, from which its chemical symbol derives, is one of the hardest, densest and least reactive metals.

Titanium and aluminum simply don’t stack up against tungsten’s mass, durability or melting point. For these reasons, tungsten is excellent in heavy alloys intended for applications where exacting tolerances, high durability and resilience are required. such as high-speed, high-performance drill bits and sawblades designed to cut through masonry.

Luciteria sells tungsten samples in both raw ore and refined forms such as sphere set and cube formats, up to 99.95% purity. Keep reading for gift guides and available formats of tungsten and other element samples!

+ What are tungsten’s chemical properties?

With a mass density higher than lead and the highest tensile strength of any elemental metal, tungsten can shrug off use and abuse which would boil titanium. Our 50mm, 99.95%-pure solid tungsten cubes have a beefy mass of 2.3 kilograms and are the biggest size we offer. By comparison, our 50mm lead reference of comparable purity masses only a 1.4-kilo cube, while an aluminum cube of 50mm per side is only 337.5g, or less than ¾ of a pound!

Tungsten’s melting point is above 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit and it boils at just over 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. To put that into perspective, a catastrophic nuclear reactor meltdown such as the one which decimated Chernobyl in 1986 “only” reaches around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, more than hot enough to turn titanium, aluminum, iron and other metals into pasta sauce.

Elementally pure tungsten such as the samples Luciteria offers could theoretically go through such a cataclysm completely unscathed, although for obvious reasons we wouldn’t recommend putting them to that sort of test!

+ Is tungsten expensive?

You might think from reviewing its properties that obtaining pure tungsten heavy metal would be difficult, but the truth is quite the opposite! Tungsten is relatively common and cheap, which combined with its durability and high melting point make it ideal for industrial applications. New and innovative uses for tungsten are emerging all the time, which means the value is subject to change between the actual cost of the metal, import fees and other import charges, all of which are markups the buyer pays for. For now, it’s safe to say tungsten is an inexpensive and striking starting point for any element collection!

+ What are some common uses for tungsten?

Tungsten chassis ballast weight cube and bar formats are commonly used in high-performance cars such as in NASCAR, both to assist the driver in controlling the vehicle and ensuring it meets the specified minimum weight for its class. Tungsten bucking bars help harden aircraft against the contrasting forces of flight. Tungsten powder is used as a protective coating in tool blades and aircraft. You can find examples of tungsten heavy alloy and varying degrees of the pure metal in jewelry and writing implements, as well as lightbulb filaments, heating elements, industrial mining equipment and other applications where the ability to withstand high heat or intense stress for long periods of time better than titanium, aluminum or iron is necessary. It also has defense applications and tungsten heavy alloy is often incorporated in bullet-resistant vehicle armor and tank rounds designed to penetrate enemy armor. Tungsten’s density and weight per unit make it too heavy to be practical as personal body armor, however.

These are just a few of the more common and better-known uses for tungsten, but you might be surprised what a little research on the Internet can tell you about this fascinating metal!

+ What is tungsten carbide used for?

Tungsten carbide is an alloy produced by mixing equal parts of powdered tungsten and carbon black. The result is a powder which can be pressed and molded into various shapes, such as tungsten bucking bars and rings. Compare this to regular steel, which rates at a hardness value of 160. Once the powder is formed, it is sintered into a uniform mixture in the presence of hydrogen at high heat, after which it becomes a hard metal with a hardness value of 1600. New intellectual property incorporating tungsten is being created almost daily. One of today’s most popular and common uses for tungsten carbide is in jewelry such as rings, where tungsten carbide is prized for its unique, iridescent rainbow shimmer, incredible hardness and hypoallergenic properties. It is also used to create high-performance drill bits, sawblades and even the rollers in ballpoint pens which make them write more smoothly!

+ What sizes are your tungsten cubes sold in, and is it possible to get a tungsten kilo cube?

Our solid, over 99% pure solid element cubes, including, tungsten and aluminum cubes, are precision machined and engraved with their name, atomic symbol and atomic number. Luciteria offers metal cubes in the following sizes:

10mm, or just under a half inch half inch tungsten cube

25.4mm, exactly one inch

50mm, slightly under two inches--our biggest size!

We do not offer tungsten kilo cube samples or tungsten alloy cube formats because our samples are sourced for maximum purity and machined to fit our element collecting display cases snugly. Creating samples of precisely one kilogram would increase the time and effort required to create them to a point where the cost would become prohibitive.

However, all our elemental cube samples, such as our tungsten cube with periodic engraving and aluminum cube set formats, are working reference samples, suitable for use in laboratories with even the most stringent tolerances.

We’re quite confident you will find your samples to be of the highest possible quality, and stand behind this promise with a return policy similar to the eBay money back guarantee. Check out our online store for more information, product details and other items from this seller!

+ I want to get into collecting elements like tungsten, but I’m worried about sharp edges throwing off the feng shui of my home. Do you offer other shapes or sample types?

Luciteria offers element samples in a number of unique formats suitable for display and conversation piece use. If you don’t want a pure cube of tungsten, we also offer rounds and 5g vials of various elements which are easy to carry, store and display. Our tungsten sphere with base set makes a bold statement as well as a unique and interesting way to display your element collection. And of course, there are our signature Lucite element cubes, which feature the elements encased in a meticulously crafted, virtually indestructible block engraved with their names, symbols and atomic numbers. Take a look at our store; we’re sure you’ll find the perfect format to display your elements in any space, as well as gift cards for friends and loved ones. Be sure to click the links above for more product details and our sponsored items!

+ I like the look of the pure tungsten cubes, but does Luciteria sell tungsten alloy cubes, or a cube set with tungsten alloy?

Luciteria’s tungsten cube with periodic engraving makes a wonderful visual and tactile learning aid for science classes from elementary school through college. It’s also an eye-catching gift for the discerning elements collector looking to round out their cube set or a unique and offbeat present for that hard-to-buy-for person on your holiday list. However, we don’t sell alloyed cube references, even cube set tungsten alloy. Our tungsten samples, like all our cubes, spheres and Lucite element blocks are backed by our guarantee of purity and quality craftsmanship. Every item in our store is of over 99% purity, proving our commitment to giving you the most representative samples of solid tungsten and other elements at the best prices available. We also offer international shipping including estimated shipping dates once your verified purchase has cleared payment, and we make it even easier than Amazon to contact the seller with any concerns or issues you might have!

+ Can I 3D print a display for my Luciteria elements collection?

While it’s theoretically possible, in practice we would suggest against attempting to 3D print your own display at home. The designs for our signature Lucite periodic table displays are the intellectual property of Luciteria and are crafted and machined to our strict standards for precision and quality. We think you’ll be a lot happier with the appearance of your display of cubes, spheres or ore samples if you don’t try to DIY your own. However, we recently viewed a third-party template online for a 3D printable carrying tray to help prevent the display from sliding on a desk or tabletop, if you’re so inclined. Click here to visit store for more information!

+ Does Luciteria offer international shipping or a global shipping program for tungsten and aluminum cube set components?

Luciteria offers a global shipping program to many countries around the world.

We also offer gift cards if you would prefer to let the recipient select their own samples. Nations we cannot ship to are those barred by US or international laws and embargos from receiving materials such as pure elements. If a given destination is one we cannot ship to, our system will automatically prevent the order being placed. Once you complete your order and have cleared payment, you will receive your anticipated delivery date. The buyer pays for import fees and other import charges, such as VAT or any tariffs and excise taxes at the time the transaction is completed.

Please keep in mind that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and availability of materials, certain elements may not be available at all times and that estimated delivery dates cannot be guaranteed. If you have any concerns, we invite you to reach out to us through our contact form to get fast responses to your specific interests and concerns.

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