Effects of microalloying elements added by in situ synthesis on the microstructure of WCu composites

Abstract

The addition of microalloying elements improves the microstructure and properties of copper-based materials. In this study, WCu composites are synthesized in situ with Fe, Ni, or Mn as microalloying elements, and the effects of each element on the microstructural characteristics of the obtained composite are investigated. Fe, Ni, and Mn can be added in situ to WCu composites by thermite reduction. Increasing the temperature is not conducive to the reduction of MnO2 by Al. Ni, Fe, and Mn were well dissolved in the copper matrix, and their contents decreases in turn, while the Al content in the matrix increases in turn. Mn clearly reduces the size of tungsten particles, and the size reduction effect of the microalloying elements on tungsten particles follows the order Mn > Fe > Ni. The effect on the wettability of the interface follows the order Ni > Mn > Fe. Increasing the interfacial wetting is not conducive to the refinement of tungsten particles.

Keywords

• wcu composite
• microalloying element
• thermite reduction