Influence of alloying and testing conditions on mechanical properties and deformation behavior of 〈100〉 tungsten-based single crystals

The results of the pressure testing of mechanical properties of single crystals of pure tungsten and low-alloyed alloys W-2Re and W-1Re-1Mo (wt%) with a crystallographic orientation 〈100〉 which were prepared by plasma-arc melting are summarized. The effect of alloying and the deformation rate on these properties have also been investigated and the fracture surfaces of the individual single crystals have been evaluated with the aid of the photometric method. The differences in the deformation behavior of pure tungsten and W-Re and W-1Mo-Re alloys were observed, which relate to the particularities of rhenium and molybdenum action in the tungsten solid solution. It can be seen from the observed results that tungsten alloying with low rhenium and molybdenum contents decreased all mechanical properties when applying the deformation rate of 0.2 mm/min. The biggest decrease was observed for the offset yield strength value. When testing with the deformation rate of 2 mm/min, the strength limit of the W-2Re alloy increased to 2013 MPa, while Rpt0.2 decreased by 33% in comparison with the pure tungsten single crystal. However, the εr value remained at the same level ∼30%. In the W-1Re-1Mo single crystal, the Rpt0.2 and Rmt values decreased, while εr increased slightly.