Copper tungstate is an inorganic compound with versatile properties suited for various industrial and research applications. This guide serves as an in-depth reference on copper tungstate in powder form – covering composition and characteristics, specification standards, manufacturing processes, suppliers, pricing, applications across fields, FAQs and more.
Overview of Copper Tungstate Powder
Copper tungstate powder is a bright blue inorganic salt classified as a heterometallic oxide with the chemical formula CuWO4. Key properties include:
- Composition: Copper, tungsten, oxygen
- Color: Intense blue
- Form: Fine particulate powder
- Key traits: Water-soluble, oxidizing, paramagnetic
- Molecular weight: 331.602 g/mol
- Density: 4.28 g/cm3 at 20°C
Offered in various purities and particle size distributions, copper tungstate powder demonstrates unique photophysical, oxidative, cryogenic andmecochemical capabilities lending utility across diverse industries.
Copper Tungstate Powder Composition
Copper tungstate comprises three elemental components – copper, tungsten and oxygen in fixed stoichiometric ratios:
Elemental Composition
| Element | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 33.06% |
| Tungsten (W) | 55.31% |
| Oxygen (O) | 11.63% |
Table 1: Copper, tungsten and oxygen composition in copper tungstate
This trimetal oxide arrangement gives rise to signature deep blue coloring, moderate solubility in water and other solvents, and notable physical properties.
Properties of Copper Tungstate Powder
Technical characteristics of copper tungstate powder include:
Physical Properties
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Color | Intense blue |
| Form | Fine particles, powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Solubility | Soluble in acids and ammonia |
| Magnetism | Paramagnetic |
| Refractive Index | 2.030 |
Chemical Properties
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Formula | CuWO4 |
| Molecular Weight | 331.602 g/mol |
| Density | 4.28 g/cm3 at 20°C |
| Melting Point | No data |
| Stability | Stable under normal conditions |
| Hazard Class | Low toxicity |
Table 2A: Physical and chemical properties of copper tungstate powder
Thermal Properties
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Decomposition | 230°C |
| Heat Capacity | 0.081 cal/g/°C |
| Entropy | 38 cal/mol/K |
Optical Properties
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reflectance | Blue light |
| Emission | Blue fluorescence |
| Band gap | 2.97eV |
Table 2B: Thermal and optical traits of copper tungstate powder
These technical properties inform suitable applications for the material across research, optics, ceramics, catalysts and specialty chemicals.
Copper Tungstate Powder Specifications
Commercial copper tungstate powder is available graded by:
Purity Grade Standards
| Grade | Purity |
|---|---|
| Standard | 90-95% |
| High Purity | 97-99% |
| Ultra High Purity | 99.9-99.99% |
Particle Size Ranges
| Mesh Size | Micron Range |
|---|---|
| 200 mesh | Below 75 microns |
| 325 mesh | Below 45 microns |
| 400 mesh | Below 38 microns |
| 500 mesh | Below 25 microns |
Table 3: Typical purity grades and particle size standards for copper tungstate powder
More stringent control of impurity levels and smaller diameter particulate improves performance for certain applications but increases cost.
Manufacturing Processes
Commercial production of copper tungstate powder relies on:
- Solid state reactions
- Wet chemical precipitations
- Hydrothermal syntheses
- Electrochemical crystallizations
- Spray drying techniques
Based on specific process conditions like precursor compounds, temperature profiles, solvent management and drying methods, powders can be tailored to meet purity, crystalline morphology, grain size distribution, surface area and other critical application requirements.
Suppliers of Copper Tungstate Powder
There exist a range of chemical manufacturers providing copper tungstate powder at scales from grams to metric tons:
| Manufacturer | Brand Names | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| American Elements | AE Copper Tungstate | $100-500/kg |
| Stanford Materials Corp | SMC CuWO4 | $150-600/kg |
| SAT nanoTechnology | sat CuWO4 | $120-450/kg |
| Hongwu International | HWI Cu-Tun-Ox | $90-375/kg |
| Kurt J Lesker | KJL CuWO4 | $250-700/kg |
Table 4: Select reputable copper tungstate suppliers and indicative pricing
Quoted pricing is general guidance only as costs vary based on order volumes, purities, additional screening or analytical testing requirements. Reach out to vendors directly for exact quotations.
Applications of Copper Tungstate Powder
Notable uses of copper tungstate leveraging unique composition and properties:
| Industry | Applications |
|---|---|
| Electronics | Phosphors, Conductors, Dielectrics |
| Energy | Battery Electrodes, Fuel Cell Catalysts |
| Coatings | Pigments, Primers, Protective Films |
| Metallurgy | Alloying Additive, Grain Refiner |
| Research | Photocatalysts, Chemical Syntheses |
| Other | Humidity Sensors, Scintillators |
Table 5: Diverse applications for copper tungstate across major industries
Specific applications take advantage of water solubility, oxidative power, photoluminescence, paramagnetism, coating adhesion and inorganic reactivity.
Comparative Analysis
How does copper tungstate compare to alternative tungstate and copper compounds?
| Material | Advantages of Copper Tungstate | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt Tungstate | Lower price More catalytic activity | Toxicity hazard Blue color inferior |
| Bismuth Tungstate | Higher density Better radiation block | Cost Radiopaque views only |
| Copper Oxide | Easier to produce Higher purity | Less chemically reactive Brown hue |
Table 6: Comparative pros and cons of copper tungstate versus other similar inorganic materials
While possessing some drawbacks, copper tungstate represents intriguing cost/performance balance – facilitating adoption in optics, energy, metallurgy and research.
FAQs
Q: Does copper tungstate occur naturally or is it purely synthetic?
A: Unlike minerals like malachite, copper tungstate does not form naturally. All commercial material is manufactured through chemical production processes.
Q: What is the shelf life for copper tungstate powder?
A: Stored properly in air-tight containers away from moisture, copper tungstate powder lasts at minimum 1-2 years. Higher purity grades demonstrate better stability – persisting over 5+ years before degradation.
Q: Is copper tungstate powder toxic?
A: Copper tungstate demonstrates relatively low toxicity with oral LD50 ratings above 1000mg/kg. Regardless, standard precautions for handling inorganic compounds are advised – gloves, goggles, masks if encountering particulates.
Q: What is the difference between copper tungstate and tungsten oxide?
A: The key distinction is copper tungstate contains both copper and tungsten oxides together in a heterometallic arrangement while tungsten oxide refers to WOx compounds without copper.