The answer to whether tungsten beads are magnetic is not a simple yes or no; it depends entirely on the specific composition of the tungsten bead. Pure tungsten itself has almost no magnetism, but most tungsten beads on the market are tungsten alloy or tungsten carbide products, and their magnetic properties are fundamentally altered by the different metal elements added.
Pure tungsten is a paramagnetic metal; it is only weakly attracted in a magnetic field. This attraction is almost imperceptible to ordinary magnets at room temperature and will never be attracted or adsorbed like iron. Therefore, theoretically, beads containing only tungsten can be considered non-magnetic. However, to obtain better mechanical properties and machinability, pure tungsten powder is mixed with metals such as nickel, iron, copper, and cobalt and then sintered at high temperatures to form tungsten alloy beads, cemented carbide beads, or tungsten carbide beads. These added metal elements determine the magnetic properties of the tungsten beads.
Generally, if tungsten beads contain ferromagnetic elements such as iron (Fe) or cobalt (Co), such as in common tungsten-nickel-iron alloys or tungsten-cobalt alloys used in making cemented carbide tools, the resulting tungsten beads will exhibit weak to significant magnetism. Conversely, if completely non-magnetic tungsten beads are required for specific applications, elements such as copper (Cu) are used to replace iron during production, as in tungsten-nickel-copper alloys. These alloys contain no ferromagnetic materials, thus producing non-magnetic tungsten beads, which are often used in applications sensitive to magnetic field interference, such as mobile phone vibration motors, precision instruments, or medical equipment. The most direct way to determine if a tungsten bead is magnetic is to test it with a strong magnet.
In practical applications, magnetic tungsten beads can be chosen for ordinary counterweights, while non-magnetic tungsten beads are necessary for precision electronics, scientific research, or medical environments. CTIA GROUP and its parent company, Chinatungsten Online, have been deeply involved in the tungsten and molybdenum products industry for nearly 30 years. They specialize in flexible global customization services for tungsten and molybdenum products, and can customize and process tungsten and molybdenum products of various specifications, performance characteristics, dimensions, and grades according to customer needs. For inquiries, please email [email protected].
