Molybdenum Wire

PURE MOLYBDENUM WIRE

Elmet is the leading global provider of high-quality molybdenum wire products and the only US owned and operated producer.  We manufacture and stock common sizes of our molybdenum, molybdenum potassium doped HCT wire and tungsten wires.  Elmet manufactures wire as small as 7/10,000ths of an inch (0.0007″).  Wire is typically sold on a per km basis for fine wire and a per kg basis for heavy wire.

All our wire products are manufactured in Lewiston, Maine USA.  Elmet is the last fully integrated US producer of molybdenum and tungsten wire with a 90-year legacy dating back to our history as part of Royal Philips Lighting where we manufactured wire and lighting filaments for Philips Lighting.

Elmet Technologies’ wire is available in the following materials:

• Mo (molybdenum wire)  Diameter sizes range from below 0.001 inches to over 0.187 inches
• Mo-K also known as Moly HCT wire (potassium doped molybdenum wire)
• Mo-La (molybdenum lanthanum oxide doped wire)
• Mo-W also know as MB is an alloyed product of moly and tungsten (molybdenum-tungsten alloy – various compositions)
• W (tungsten)
• W-La (tungsten lanthanum oxide doped wire)
• W-K non-sag (potassium doped tungsten wire)
• Titanium Zirconium Molybdenum (TZM)

Elmet starts with the highest quality W and Mo powder and follows our ISO 9001 and AS9100 certified manufacturing processes to ensure our final product always meets our customer’s application needs. In addition, we will modify the manufacturing processes to meet specific customer application requirements.

Typical Pure Molybdenum Wire Applications and Properties

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HCT and MoLa Molybdenum Wire Applications and Properties

MB (Molybdenum-Tungsten Alloyed) Wire Applications and Properties

Elmet’s tungsten and molybdenum-based wire is used in a variety of cutting-edge industries including aerospace, medical equipment and devices, university R&D, lighting, and high-temperature furnace.  With over 80 years of refractory metals wire production experience, Elmet is a trusted supplier to leading companies worldwide.  Elmet’s wire is produced at our Lewiston, Maine factory beginning as a metal powder which is pressed into ingots, and drawn down to sizes as small as seven-ten-thousandths of an inch through a series of process steps. Our fully integrated US-based in-house processing allows Elmet to manufacture wire tailored to meet specific customer material and/or performance requirements.

Pure molybdenum wire products are used in most standard applications for production of mandrels, supports, furnace elements, furnace windings and formed parts.

HCT and MoLa are doped products that have higher recrystallization temperatures. At diameters below 0.090 inches, they exhibit better ductility after recrystallization. These products used in more demanding applications, such as halogen lamp leads because of superior weldability and glass-to-metal seal properties.  Application temperature limits for MoLa exceed those of HCT, and MoLa can be used when the limits of HCT are reached.

MB is an alloyed product of molybdenum with tungsten (typically 50:50, with others available upon request). It combines the properties of tungsten and molybdenum to offer blended properties with unique resistance and oxide color capabilities for use in automotive and aircraft windshield heating (defrosting).

Dimensions and Tolerances

Wire diameters are generally expressed in terms of inches or mils (thousandths of an inch). For thin wires from 0.001 inches to 0.020 inches, the size of the wire is measured by weight per unit length. That is, the weight expressed as milligrams of a 200mm length of wire.

The standard diameter tolerance is ± 3% of the weight measurement. For mandrel applications, the tolerance is normally ± 1%.

To calculate diameter, the equation is:

D (in mils) = 0.98648 x square root(mg weight / 200mm length)

For thicker wires from 0.020 inches up to 0.250 inches in diameter, the inch or mil measurements are used. The tolerances are expressed as a percentage of the diameter. Standard tolerance is ± 1.5%.

Tensile Strength and Straightness

Tensile strength for molybdenum wire is usually expressed in grams per milligram weight of a 200-millimeter length (or) g/mg/200mm. The normal range of values is 40 to 60 grams. In general, as tensile strength increases, wire straightness decreases.  The measure of the straightness of a metal wire is obtained by cutting a ten-inch long piece of wire and allowing it to lie on a flat clean surface. The maximum deviation from a straight line along its length is the quantitative measure of its straightness. In general, as the degree of the straightness increases, tensile strength decreases.  Because customer processes and equipment vary widely, Elmet produces metal wire products to our internal standards of tensile strength and straightness. We do adjust these properties to meet customer needs and specifications.

Out of Roundness

Out of roundness of wire does not exceed 4% of the wire diameter. It is measured as follows:

Out of Roundness = (Max Diameter – Min Diameter) / Max Diameter x 100

Quality and Finish

Elmet’s wire is free of scratches, kinks, and distortions.

The surface finish of wire is the black, as drawn condition, in which drawing lubricants and oxides are retained on the surface. Wire is also available in the cleaned condition, which is achieved through firing in hydrogen or electrochemical etching.

Spooling

Wire is spooled on clean, defect-free spools. Wire with large diameters is self-coiled. Spools are level-filled without piling near flanges. Elmet ensures that the outer end of the wire is properly marked and attached securely to the spool or self-coil.

MOLYBDENUM:

High purity molybdenum possesses unique properties that are suitable for use in a number of applications and industries.  For example, its high melting point, 2620 °C, drives its performance in high-temperature environments. Elmet starts with the highest quality Mo powder to ensure our final product always meets our customer’s application needs. In addition, we will modify the manufacturing processes to meet even the most exacting application requirements that our customers have.

• Symbol: Mo
• Category: Transition Metal, Group VI
• Atomic Number: 42
• Density: 10.28 g / cm³
• Discovered: 1778
• High melting temperature, 2620 °C
• Low vapor pressure at high temperature
• Low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)
• Good thermal and electrical conductivity
• High density
• Good corrosion and creep resistance
• Load bearing capabilities at temperatures up to 2000 °C,
• Excellent thermal and electrical conductivity
• Shielding from high energy particles

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