Main content

Elemental Business: Tungsten

One of the hardest metals, tungsten has uses from light bulbs to weaponry. But why so few mines? We consider the market value of this weighty member of the period table.

One of the hardest metals of all, tungsten has a range of uses from light bulbs to state of the art weaponry. In the latest of Business Daily's exploration of the elements, we hear from professor Andrea Sella of University College London about the properties of this heavy metal. We get a tour of SGS Carbide tool factory with managing director Alan Pearce, and we consider the market value of this very useful element with Mark Seddon, head of consultancy at Tungsten Market Research. And, the Chinese are big fans, but this still has not led to the boom in tungsten mining which might have been expected. We find out why. Also, Robert Kelley, military technology analyst, talks us through the uses of this weighty metal when it comes to the one-upmanship of of war.

Available now

18 minutes

Last on

Wed 9 Jul 2014 07:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Wed 9 Jul 2014 07:32GMT

Business Daily Podcast

Download every programme.

Podcast