Mechanical and microstructural characterization of W-Cu FGM fabricated by one-step sintering method through PM route

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering Vol. 338; no. 1; pp. 12042 - 12047
• Main Authors: Gupta, Rajat, Kumar, Rohit, Chaubey, A.K., Kanpara, Shailesh, Khirwadkar, S.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.03.2018
• Subjects: Functionally graded material; Functionally gradient materials; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Nuclear fusion; Plasma Facing Material; Plasma sintering; Powder metallurgy; Resistance sintering; Scratch resistance; Spark Plasma Sintering; Surface properties; Theoretical density
• ISSN: 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/338/1/012042

Five layer W-Cu functionally graded material (FGM) for components in nuclear fusion application was fabricated by a one-step resistance sintering process, known as spark plasma sintering (SPS). In this study effect of sintering temperature (Ts) on physical, mechanical and surface property was investigated. Detailed microstructural study revealed that the graded structure of the composite layers with varying composition from 0 to 100 wt% W and Cu in opposite directions could be well densified after the SPS process. It also indicates that the fine microstructure within functionally graded layers can be maintained because of short sintering time. The sample sintered at 1050°C shows more than 90% theoretical density, hardness greater than 239±5 Hv and excellent surface scratch resistance. The result demonstrates that SPS is promising and more suitable process for fabrication of W-Cu FGM.