Why is tungsten a useful material for incandescent lamp filaments?

Tungsten is a highly effective material for incandescent lamp filaments primarily because it possesses the highest melting point of all metals, at 3,410 °C (6,170 °F).12

This unique property allows the filament to operate at significantly higher temperatures than earlier carbon-based filaments without melting. By running at these elevated temperatures, the lamp can emit both whiter light and a greater total amount of light for the same electrical input, resulting in higher efficiency. Additionally, while tungsten is brittle at room temperature, it can be mechanically worked at high temperatures to become ductile, allowing it to be drawn into the very fine wires required for lamp filaments.312

To further enhance performance, modern tungsten filaments are often doped with small amounts of materials like alumina, silica, and potassium oxide to prevent sagging, and they are frequently used in bulbs filled with inert gases to reduce the evaporation of the filament, which extends the lamp's lifespan.345