journal article·2025-01-10Open access

The influence of nano-size La 2 O 3 and HfC on the microstructure and mechanical properties of tungsten alloys by microwave sintering

Chao Wang, Zhihui Xia, Hao Tang, Zhuang Zhao, Rui Shu, Xiaosong Jiang

Nanotechnology Reviews· Volume 14· Issue 1

Abstract

Abstract The inherent brittleness and high ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of tungsten-based heavy alloys are primarily due to the poor cohesion of W grain boundaries and insufficient bonding strength at the W/γ phase interface, which limits their reliability and service life in related applications. This study prepared nano-size La 2 O 3 and HfC particles reinforced W–(Fe, Co, Ni) alloys via microwave sintering, including the baseline sample S-A (95.5W–2.63Fe–1.12Co–0.75Ni, in wt%), single addition samples S-B (1La 2 O 3 ), S-C (1HfC), and mix addition sample S-D (1La 2 O 3 –1HfC). The results show that S-C has the highest relative density of 99.2 ± 0.47 %; S-D has the highest Vickers hardness of 414 ± 13.5 HV and tensile strength of 744.1 MPa; S-B has the optimal strain of 5.1 %. La 2 O 3 enhances the plasticity and fracture strain of the composites by grain boundary purification, grain refinement, and interface strengthening, inducing a transgranular fracture mode. HfC promotes the formation of composite carbides, achieving dispersion strengthening and dislocation pinning, primarily enhancing hardness and strength, but with limited improvement in toughness. In S-D, the synergistic effect of La 2 O 3 and HfC effectively balances the grain boundary pinning and purification, minimizes microporosity, and optimizes phase interface bonding, thus achieving an excellent synergy between strength and toughness, extending the alloy’s application potential in extreme environments.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced materials and composites · Fusion materials and technologies · Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Institute of Machinery Manufacturing Technology, China Academy of Engineering Physics , Mianyang , 621900 , China

School of Materials Science and Engineering , Southwest Jiaotong University , Chengdu Sichuan 610031 , China

Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials , Ministry of Education , Chengdu 610031 , China

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