Spark plasma sintering of W–15Cu alloy from ultrafine composite powder prepared by spray drying and calcining-continuous reduction technology

The effects of spark plasma sintering and conventional H2 atmosphere sintering on the microstructure and properties of W–15Cu alloy using ultrafine W–15Cu composite powder fabricated by spray drying and calcining-continuous reduction technology were investigated. Results showed that W–15Cu alloy, consolidated by spark plasma sintering for 10 min at 1200 °C under a pressure of 30 MPa, with 98% relative density, transverse rupture strength 1259 MPa, Vickers hardness 379, average grain size 0.8 µm and thermal conductivity 189 W/m K, was obtained. In comparison to the conventional H2 atmosphere sintering process, spark plasma sintering to W–15Cu alloy could be achieved at lower sintering temperature and shorter sintering time. Furthermore, better properties in spark plasma sintered compacts were obtained, moreover spark plasma sintering resulted in finer microstructure.