Fabrication and characterization of W–15Cu composite powders by a novel mechano-chemical process

W–Cu nanopowder was successfully prepared by a novel mechano-chemical method, in which WO3 and CuO powders were first jet-milled in a high-pressure airflow, then reduced in H2 to convert into W–Cu composite powders. The starting and milled WO3 and CuO powders, as well as the resulting W–Cu powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and laser particle size analysis. Property of the sintered W–Cu compacts was also investigated. It was shown that jet milling effectively reduces particle size of the starting WO3 and CuO powders. The W–Cu composite powder fabricated by the mechano-chemical process has nanosize of less than 100 nm and high-dispersed and homogeneous distribution of W and Cu components. The W–Cu composite powder exhibits high sinterability, and relative density of near 99% of the theoretical was achieved for W–Cu compacts sintered at 1200 °C. Furthermore, the sintered W–Cu parts showed good physical and mechanical properties. Maximum electrical and thermal conductivity are 185 W m−1 K−1 and 25 m Ω−1 cm−1 for W–Cu compacts sintered at 1200 °C, respectively, and bending strength and Vickers hardness are 673 and 372 MPa, respectively.