The activated sintering of WCu composites through spark plasma sintering

• Published in: International journal of refractory metals & hard materials 2019-06, Vol.81, p.27-35
• Main Authors: Luo, Chunlan, Wang, Yan, Xu, Juexin, Xu, Gaoyong, Yan, Zizhi, Li, Jingzhi, Li, Hui, Lu, Hui, Suo, Jinping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated sintering; Activating element; Ball milling; Chromium; Composite materials; Copper; Copper base alloys; Copper plating; Electrical properties; Mechanical alloying; Organic chemistry; Plasma sintering; Spark plasma sintering; SPS sintering; Thermodynamic properties; Tungsten‑copper alloys; Wettability
• ISSN: 0263-4368; 2213-3917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2019.02.015

Tungsten-copper composites of network structure are increasingly being studied because of their unique mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Chemical plating and mechanical alloying were used to prepare tungsten-copper alloys with different compositions in this investigation. Samples obtained through mechanical alloying method and sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique at 1030 °C, 60 MPa exhibited excellent performance. Ni element and Cr element were added to the composite as activating elements to improve the interface wettability of tungsten‑copper. The experimental results showed the Cr element contributes more to the densities, tensile strength, flexural strength and thermal properties of the composites than Ni element. Besides, the effect of two different ball milling ways on the properties of the composites was also studied. The sample W20Cu (15Cr), which was prepared by Cu(Cr) ball milling, showing a network structure, has the best performance. •A combined process of SPS and activated sintering were used in the fabrication.•The WCu composite showed a network structure with continuous copper phase.•Two different ways of mechanical alloying were compared.•The resulting composites show excellent mechanical and thermal properties.