Fabrication and properties of tungsten-copper alloy reinforced by titanium-coated silicon carbide whiskers

Abstract

Titanium-coated silicon carbide whiskers were prepared by vacuum slow vapor deposition process. W-20Cu composite powder was fabricated by spray drying and calcining-continuous reduction technology. The paper adopted hot-press sintering to prepare titanium-coated silicon carbide whiskers/W-20Cu composites. Effects of addition amount of titanium-coated silicon carbide whiskers on the phases, microstructures, and properties of the composites were investigated. Titanium-coated silicon carbide whiskers/W-20Cu composites with improved mechanical properties and thermal conductivities were fabricated by hot-press sintering at 1350℃ under a pressure of 30 MPa for 2 h in pure Ar atmosphere. The transverse rupture strength and thermal conductivity of the 0.6 wt% titanium-coated silicon carbide whiskers/W-20Cu composite when compared with W-20Cu-based alloy were enhanced by 22% and 26%, respectively. With reasonable addition amount of titanium-coated silicon carbide whiskers, the composites without graphite, tungsten carbide, and silicon phases were obtained.