Crack suppression in additively manufactured tungsten by introducing secondary-phase nanoparticles into the matrix

• Published in: International journal of refractory metals & hard materials Vol. 79; pp. 158 - 163
• Main Authors: Li, Kailun, Wang, Dianzheng, Xing, Leilei, Wang, Yafei, Yu, Chenfan, Chen, Jinhan, Zhang, Tao, Ma, Jing, Liu, Wei, Shen, Zhijian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shrewsbury Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Additive manufacturing; Crack control; Grain refinement; Grains; Nanoparticles; Powder beds; Tungsten; Zirconium carbide; ZrC nanoparticles; ZrC nanoparticles; Additive manufacturing; Crack control; Grain refinement; W
• ISSN: 0263-4368; 2213-3917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2018.11.013

In this study, an effective strategy was developed to suppress cracking by introducing secondary-phase ZrC nanoparticles into a tungsten (W) matrix. Pure W and W-0.5wt%ZrC bulks were additively manufactured via the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique, and their cracking behaviour was compared. It was observed that the crack density of W-ZrC was reduced by 88.7% compared with that of pure W. The grains in W-ZrC were obviously refined compared with the grains in pure W, which significantly increased the cracking resistance. In addition, ZrC diminished the oxygen impurities, further increasing the cracking resistance. This study provides a promising strategy for the additive manufacturing of high-quality W by introducing secondary-phase nanoparticles into the metal matrix. •Additive manufacturing of tungsten and tungsten alloy (W-ZrC)•Effective crack suppression by introducing secondary phase nanoparticles (ZrC)•Material strengthening by grain refinement and oxygen impurity removal