Are you on the hunt for a refractory metal manufacturer to supply and support your company with high-quality tungsten heavy alloys, pure tungsten, molybdenum, and other related alloys?  It can be tempting to start your search on Google with “tungsten suppliers” or similar queries but before you click on the first ad to pop up, there are a few things you should consider. We have complied a generous list of recommended questions to ask to aid in preventing surprises later in the process.

• Do they reduce, press, sinter and manufacture the raw material, ingots, rod, plate, etc. or source from others?  Many of the company’s advertising tungsten on Google does not actually produce the material and as such may have a difficult time ensuring and verifying quality and chemistry data.
• What is the country of origin of the raw material (tungsten powder)? Ask to receive a copy of their conflict-free mineral certification (for the specific material and factory where your material will be sourced)
• Do you require material that is for a DoD related project and/or compliant with DFARS? There is a new US Department of Defense law banning tungsten material and powder for any DoD project where the material comes from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
• If from a reseller, how many different factories and sources does the reseller use? If you need more material can they guarantee it will be from the same factory or source?
• Does the supplier have an internal lab to ensure full chemical and material certification verification? Based on this you should understand who will draft and provide the certification of chemistry and compliance to your order spec’s.
• Are the certifications that come with the material based on actual data or representative data?
• If you are ordering ASTM compliant material it is good to ask how the ASTM requirements are tested and met. For example, ASTM B-777, AMS7725E or MIL-T-21014D requirements for tungsten heavy alloy may require different tests depending on class of material (Class 1, 2, 3, or 4).  
• Are they willing to supply copies of quality certifications for the factory producing the material? (e.g. ISO and AS 9100)
• Are you able to visit the factory to see the material being produced and talk with the production and quality teams?
• How many years has the supplier been producing tungsten and molybdenum?
• If purchased from stock inventory it is important to ask how long the material has been sitting on the shelf since over time tungsten can begin to oxidize. Is the inventory maintained in an environmentally controlled environment?  Is the material carefully packaged?
• If purchased from overseas it is important to ask how it was transported to the US since Ocean freight can accelerate oxidation due to saltwater in the air

Let Elmet Technologies answer all your questions. Contact us today.