Fabrication and characterization of ultra-fine tungsten wire

An electrolysis corrosion method was used in producing ultra-fine tungsten wires with diameters less than 7 μm. The main factors that influence the tangsten wire were investigated, including the temperatures, KOH mass fraction of the electrolytic solution, electrolytic potentials and coiling velocity on the tungsten wires. The results show that the electrolytic potential and coiling velocity are the most important factors. The morphologies, roughness and strengths of the as-produced ultra-fine wires were characterized by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Tension/Compression Tester. Compared with the initial wires, the as-fabricated ultra-fine tungsten wires, 3.5 μm in diameter, with a surface extraction roughness of 2.42 nm and a tensile strength of