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Mapping the global flow of tungsten to identify key material efficiency and supply security opportunities

Author

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  • Leal-Ayala, David R.
  • Allwood, Julian M.
  • Petavratzi, Evi
  • Brown, Teresa J.
  • Gunn, Gus

Abstract

Tungsten is an economically important metal with diverse applications ranging from wear resistant cutting tools to its use in specialized steels and alloys. Concerns about its supply security have been raised by various studies in literature, mostly due to trade disputes arising from supply concentration and exports restrictions in China and its lack of viable substitutes. Although tungsten material flows have been analysed for specific regions, a global mass flow analysis of tungsten is still missing in literature and its global supply chain remains opaque for industry outsiders. The objective of this paper is to create a map of global tungsten flows to highlight and discuss key material efficiency (i.e., using less of a material to make a product or supply a service, or reducing the material entering production but ending up in waste) and supply security opportunities along tungsten’s supply chain that could be incorporated into the planning and prioritization of future supply security strategies. The results indicate the existence of various intervention alternatives that could help to broaden the supply base and improve the overall material efficiency of the system. In particular, future policy and research and development (R&D) efforts to improve tungsten’s material efficiency should focus on minimizing tungsten losses as fine particles during beneficiation and extraction (current global losses estimated at 10–40%), as well as on evaluating alternatives to improve recycling collection systems and technologies, which could lead to 17–45% more tungsten discards being recycled into new products.

Suggested Citation

  • Leal-Ayala, David R. & Allwood, Julian M. & Petavratzi, Evi & Brown, Teresa J. & Gunn, Gus, 2015. "Mapping the global flow of tungsten to identify key material efficiency and supply security opportunities," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 19-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:103:y:2015:i:c:p:19-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.07.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ermelinda M. Harper, 2008. "A Product-Level Approach to Historical Material Flow Analysis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 12(5-6), pages 768-784, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Linbin Tang & Peng Wang & Zijie Ma & Stefan Pauliuk & Wei‐Qiang Chen & Tao Dai & Zipeng Lin, 2023. "Exploring the global trade networks of the tungsten supply chain: Insights into the physical and monetary mismatch among countries," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(1), pages 323-335, February.
    2. Anna Furberg & Rickard Arvidsson & Sverker Molander, 2018. "Live and Let Die? Life Cycle Human Health Impacts from the Use of Tire Studs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Lupton, R.C. & Allwood, J.M., 2017. "Hybrid Sankey diagrams: Visual analysis of multidimensional data for understanding resource use," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 141-151.
    4. Jia, Nanfei & Pi, Zhengrong & Zuo, Min & Liu, Donghui & An, Haizhong & Wang, Jialiang, 2024. "Structural evolution and the influence mechanism of the global embedded tungsten value flow networks: The perspective of value chain and technological progress," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    5. Nassar, Nedal T., 2017. "Shifts and trends in the global anthropogenic stocks and flows of tantalum," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 233-250.
    6. Rahul Kumar & Arash Kariminejad & Maksim Antonov & Dmitri Goljandin & Piotr Klimczyk & Irina Hussainova, 2023. "Progress in Sustainable Recycling and Circular Economy of Tungsten Carbide Hard Metal Scraps for Industry 5.0 and Onwards," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-35, August.
    7. Huang, Jianbai & Ding, Qian & Wang, Ying & Hong, Huojun & Zhang, Hongwei, 2021. "The evolution and influencing factors of international tungsten competition from the industrial chain perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    8. Jia, Nanfei & An, Haizhong & Gao, Xiangyun & Liu, Donghui & Chang, Hao, 2023. "The main transmission paths of price fluctuations for tungsten products along the industry chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    9. Choi, Chul Hun & Cao, Jinjian & Zhao, Fu, 2016. "System Dynamics Modeling of Indium Material Flows under Wide Deployment of Clean Energy Technologies," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 59-71.
    10. António Mateus & Catarina Lopes & Luís Martins & Mário Abel Gonçalves, 2021. "Current and Foreseen Tungsten Production in Portugal, and the Need of Safeguarding the Access to Relevant Known Resources," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-26, June.
    11. Fu Haw Ho & Salwa Hanim Abdul-Rashid & Raja Ariffin Raja Ghazilla & Yoke Ling Woo, 2019. "Resources Sustainability through Material Efficiency Strategies: An Insight Study of Electrical and Electronic Companies," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-16, June.

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