Effect of tungsten particle shape on dynamic deformation and fracture behavior of tungsten heavy alloys

• Published in: Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physical metallurgy and materials science Physical metallurgy and materials science, 1998-03, Vol.29 (3A), p.1057-1069
• Main Authors: KIM, D.-K, SUNGHAK LEE, SONG, H.-S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fatigue, corrosion fatigue, embrittlement, cracking, fracture and failure; Fatigue, embrittlement, and fracture; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Treatment of materials and its effects on microstructure and properties
• ISSN: 1073-5623; 1543-1940
• DOI: 10.1007/s11661-998-0298-4

The effect of the tungsten particle shape on the dynamic deformation and fracture behavior of W heavy alloys was investigated. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted using a torsional Kolsky bar for five alloys, one of which was fabricated by the double-cycled sintering process, and then the test data were compared via microstructures, mechanical properties, adiabatic shear banding, and fracture mode. The dynamic torsional test results indicated that in the double-sintered W alloy whose W particles were very coarse and irregularly shaped, cleavage fracture occurred in the central area of the gage section with little shear deformation, whereas shear deformation was concentrated in the central area of the gage section in the other alloys. The deformation and fracture behavior of the double-sintered alloy correlated well with the observation of the impacted penetrator specimen and the in situ fracture test results, i.e., microcrack initiation at coarse W particles and cleavage crack propagation through W particles. These findings suggested that the cleavage fracture mode would be beneficial for the self-sharpening effect, and, thus, the improvement of the penetration performance of the double-sintered W heavy alloy would be expected.