Effect of particle clustering on the effective modulus of ZrC/W composites

The mechanical properties of the powder metallurgy processed (P/M) metallic composite can be significantly improved by the addition of ceramic particles. On the other side, the residual porosity and lower adhesive strength between particles within particle clustering regions, mainly caused by the relative low sinterability of ceramic particles in the ceramic particle-reinforced metal–matrix composite, weakens the strengthening effect of ceramics particles. In this paper, the influence of the porosities in the ZrC particle clusters as well as in the tungsten–matrix of the P/M ZrC particle-reinforced tungsten (ZrC/W) composite on the effective elastic modulus of the composite is examined via mechanical testing combined microstructure analysis. An iterative model is developed for the quantitative evaluation of this influence of the porosity. Furthermore, the roles of ZrC particle clustering on the elastic modulus as well as on the strength of the composite are discussed.