Space Shuttle Question

[danwild6]

Could the leading edge of the space shuttle wing have been made out of tungsten

 

[Hobbes]

I was expecting the thermal conductivity of Tungsten to be much higher than the RCC used for the leading edge (which would make it unsuitable), but it turns out to be the other way round. Weight may be the issue.

 

[TomS]

How is it for surface emissivity? Apparently that was the big selling point for the reinforced carbon-carbon structures on the Shuttle.

Interesting paper on Shuttle TPS here: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/584728main_Wings-ch4b-pgs182-199.pdf