Effect of infiltration parameters on composition of W–ZrC composites produced by displacive compensation of porosity (DCP) method

In this study, the effect of infiltration parameters on composition of W–ZrC composites produced by displacive compensation of porosity (DCP) method was investigated. For this purpose, a porous tungsten carbide preform was prepared by cold isostatic pressing (CIP) of tungsten carbide powder and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The porous preform was debinded for 4 h at 400 °C and sintered for 4 h at 1400 °C. The sintered preform was then infiltrated by molten Zr2Cu at 1300 °C and 1200 °C for 1, 3, 5 and 7 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to study the cross section of infiltrated specimens. The results indicated that the amount of tungsten and zirconium carbide phases increased by increasing the infiltration temperature, whereas the effect of infiltration time on composition of W–ZrC composite was negligible.