Tungsten base infiltrated metals with either copper or silver as infiltrants have been widely used in industry for many years. The major uses include missile vector control vanes, nozzle and throat materials, missile plume deflector shields, electrical contacts, resistance welding contacts, and porous emitters. Recently, the aerospace industry has opened up an entirely new field for both tungsten-silver and tungsten-copper composites. These, with approximately 90 weight % tungsten have proven highly advantageous because of their excellent machinability. Complicated forms of nozzles and inserts can now be machined from a powder metallurgy product. Excellent thermal shock resistance, especially during firings, ablative cooling by silver vapor or copper vapor, and approximately 10% less weight than pure Tungsten, with much easier handling, are additional benefits of infiltrated compounds.

A summary of the advantages and superior products is as follows:

• Evaporation transpiration cooling capability.

• Increased ambient temperature toughness provided by the ductile infiltrant.

• Good machinability as a result of ductile infiltrant.

• Lowered thermal stress gradients resulting from increased thermal conductivity.

• Lower density than pure Tungsten.

• Design versatility.

• Pricing is competitive with forged Tungsten.