Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hot-pressed sintering of W/Cu functionally graded materials prepared from copper-coated tungsten powders

  • Published:
Rare Metals Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The three-layered (W–60 vol%Cu/W–40 vol%Cu/W–20 vol%Cu) W/Cu functionally graded material (FGM) containing a Cu network structure was fabricated at different temperatures by hot-pressed sintering produced from copper-coated tungsten powders. The effects of various sintering temperatures on relative density, microstructure, thermal conductivity, hardness and flexural strength were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis show that a Cu network extends throughout the W/Cu FGM specimens sintered at 1065 °C and the graded structure can be retained perfectly, and W particles are distributed homogeneously. The low-temperature sintering densification of W/Cu FGM arises because the sintering mode of the copper-coated tungsten particles includes just sintering Cu to Cu, rather than Cu to W, Cu to Cu and W to W, as required for conventional powder particles. The relative density of W/Cu FGM sintered at 1065 °C for 3 h under a load of 25 MPa is 96.1%. The thermal conductivity is up to 204 W·m−1·K−1 at normal temperature and 150 W·m−1·K−1 at 800 °C. And the Vickers hardness varies with the gradient of different layers from 3.34 to 4.05 GPa.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Raffray AR, Nygren R, Whyte DG, Abdel-Khalik S, Doerner R, Escourbiac F, Evans T, Goldston RJ, Hoelzer DT, Konishi S, Lorenzetto P, Merola M, Neu R, Norajitra P, Pitts RA, Rieth M, Roedig M, Rognlien T, Suzuki S, Tillack MS, Wong C. High heat flux components—readiness to proceed from near term fusion systems to power plants. Fusion Eng Des. 2010;85(1):93.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Maki K, Ito Y, Matsunaga H, Mori H. Solid-solution copper alloys with high strength and high electrical conductivity. Scr Mater. 2013;68(10):777.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dai DH, Gu DD. Thermal behavior and densification mechanism during selective laser melting of copper matrix composites: simulation and experiments. Mater Des. 2014;55(6):482.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhu XY, Zhang J, Chen JL, Wu YC. Structure and properties of W–Cu/AlN composites prepared via a hot press-sintering method. Rare Met Mater Eng. 2015;44(11):2661.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shimomura Y. ITER and plasma surface interaction issues in a fusion reactor. J Nucl Mater. 2007;363–365(1):467.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hino T, Akiba M. Japanese developments of fusion reactor plasma facing component. Fusion Eng Des. 2000;49–50:97.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Liu BB, Xie JX, Qu XH. Fabrication of W–Cu functionally graded materials with high density by particle size adjustment and solid state hot press. Compos Sci Technol. 2008;68(6):1539.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Diegele E, Krüssmann R, Malang S, Norajitra P, Rizzi G. Modular He-cooled divertor for power plant application. Fus Eng Des. 2003;66–68(03):383.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hong S-H, Kim B-K. Fabrication of W–20 wt% Cu composite nanopowder and sintered alloy with high thermal conductivity. Mater Lett. 2003;57(18):2761.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bolt H, Barabash V, Krauss W, Linke J, Neu R, Suzuki S. Materials for the plasma-facing components of fusion reactors. J Nucl Mater. 2004;329–333:66.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Chen PG, Luo GQ, Shen Q, Li MJ, Zhang LM. Thermal and electrical properties of W–Cu composite produced by activated sintering. Mater Des. 2013;46(4):101.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen PA, Shen Q, Luo GQ, Li MJ, Zhang LM. The mechanical properties of W–Cu composite by activated sintering. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater. 2013;36(6):220.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Luo GN, Liu M, Kuang ZQ, Zhang XD, Yang ZS, Deng CG, Zhang ZC, Li JG, Zhou KS. Directly-cooled VPS-W/Cu limiter and its preliminary results in HT-7. J Nucl Mater. 2007;363–365(1):1241.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Selvakumar N, Vettivel SC. Thermal, electrical and wear behavior of sintered Cu–W nanocomposite. Mater Des. 2013;46(4):16.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Li ZG, Jia CC, Sun L, He YT, Fan SM. Pressure sintering of W-15 wt% Cu alloys prepared by mechanical alloying as a subsequent densification treatment method. Rare Met. 2006;25(2):124.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Zhu CF, Du FP, Jiao QY, Wang XM, Chen AY, Liu F, Pan D. Microstructure and strength of pure Cu with large grains processed by equal channel angular pressing. Mater Des. 2013;52(24):23.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Itoh Y, Takahashi M, Takano H. Design of tungsten/copper graded composite for high heat flux components. Fusion Eng Des. 1996;31(4):279.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Thomas G, Vincent R, Matthews G, Dance B, Grant PS. Interface topography and residual stress distributions in W coatings for fusion armour applications. Mater Sci Eng A. 2008;477(1–2):35.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Chong FL, Chen JL, Li JG. Evaluation of tungsten coatings on CuCrZr and W/Cu FGM under high heat flux and HT-7 limiter plasma irradiation. J Nucl Mater. 2007;363–365:1201.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Echlin MP, Mottura A, Wang M, Mignone PJ, Riley DP, Franks GV, Pollock TM. Three-dimensional characterization of the permeability of W–Cu composites using a new “TriBeam” technique. Acta Mater. 2014;64:307.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Luo SD, Yi JH, Guo YL, Peng YD, Li LY, Ran JM. Microwave sintering W–Cu composites: analyses of densification and microstructural homogenization. J Alloy Compd. 2009;473(1–2):L5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lee J, Kim J-H, Kang S. Advanced W-HfC cermet using in situ powder and spark plasma sintering. J Alloy Compd. 2013;552(10):14.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Feng P, He YH, Xiao YF, Xiong WH. Effect of VC addition on sinterability and microstructure of ultrafine Ti(C, N)-based cermets in spark plasma sintering. J Alloy Compd. 2008;460(1–2):453.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhou Y, Sun QX, Liu R, Wang XP, Liu CS, Fang QF. Microstructure and properties of fine grained W–15 wt% Cu composite sintered by microwave from the sol–gel prepared powders. J Alloy Compd. 2013;547(2):18.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ryu S-S, Kim G-S, Kim J-C, Oh S-T, Do Kim Y. The influence of annealing temperature on the microstructural development of W–Cu composite powder prepared by high-energy ball milling. J Alloy Compd. 2006;424(1–2):209.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Cheng JG, Lei CP, Xiong ET, Jiang Y, Xia YH. Preparation and characterization of W–Cu nanopowders by a homogeneous precipitation process. J Alloy Compd. 2006;421(1–2):146.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Huang LM, Luo LM, Ding XY, Luo GN, Zan X, Cheng JG, Wu YC. Effects of simplified pretreatment process on the morphology of W–Cu composite powder prepared by electroless plating and its sintering characterization. Powder Technol. 2014;258:216.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Barin I. Thermochemical Data of Pure Substances. 3rd ed. Weinheim: Wiley; 1995. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang LM, Chen WS, Luo GQ, Chen PA, Shen Q, Wang CB. Low-temperature densification and excellent thermal properties of W–Cu thermal-management composites prepared from copper-coated tungsten powders. J Alloy Compd. 2014;588:49.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Tang XQ, Zhang HB, Du DM, Qu D, Hu CF, Xie RJ, Feng Y. Fabrication of W–Cu functionally graded material by spark plasma sintering method. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater. 2014;42:193.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Wenzhou Public Welfare Technology Research Industry Project (No. G20140042).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China

    Pei Tian, Yi Feng, Meng Xia, Ke Liu & Xiao-Chen Huang

  2. Department of Material Engineering, Zhejiang Industry and Trade Vocational College, Wenzhou, 325000, China

    Lan Zhao & Cheng-Yu Cai

Authors
  1. Pei Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yi Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Meng Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lan Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cheng-Yu Cai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ke Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiao-Chen Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi Feng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tian, P., Feng, Y., Xia, M. et al. Hot-pressed sintering of W/Cu functionally graded materials prepared from copper-coated tungsten powders. Rare Met. 39, 1229–1236 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-017-0939-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-017-0939-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation