Influence of mixing and effect of agglomerates on the green and sintered properties of 97W–2.1Ni–0.9Fe heavy alloys

Feedstock of 97 wt.% tungsten heavy alloy with different particle characteristics was injection molded as tensile bars and investigated for green density, solvent debinding kinetics, sintered density, and the tensile properties. Feedstock with higher agglomerate content resulted in injection molded bars with lower green density. Contrary to the expectations, the debinding kinetics, sintered density, and sintered properties of the heavy alloys were not influenced by the agglomerate content. Microstructural and fractographic analysis of the sintered samples supported the above observations, with similarities in microstructural parameters such as contiguity, porosity, grain size, and fracture morphology of the sintered alloys. It is concluded that favorable wetting, spreading and solubility characteristics of tungsten and the liquid phase consisting of W–Fe–Ni eliminate the inhomogeneities in the microstructure resulting in densification and uniform sintered properties.