Synthesis and densification of W–Cu, W–Cu–Ag and W–Ag composite powders via a chemical precipitation method

• Chemical precipitation method for synthesis of W–Cu, W–Cu–Ag and W–Ag nanopowders.
• Surveying sintering temperature effect on density and hardness of powders compacts.
• Increasing sintering temperature increased density and hardness of all samples.
• At all sintering temperatures, increasing silver decreased samples’ hardness.
• Maximum and minimum density was for W–Cu–Ag and W–Ag samples, respectively.

This research was undertaken with an aim of making a comparison between W–Cu, W–Cu–Ag and W–Ag composites. In this way, nanostructured W–20wt%Cu, W–10wt%Cu–10wt%Ag and W–20wt%Ag composite powders were prepared by calcination of chemically precipitated initial powders and a subsequent reduction treatment. The powders were characterized using XRD and SEM analysis. The sintering behavior and hardness of samples were also investigated as a function of temperature. The sintered samples were evaluated by SEM. The results showed that at all sintering temperatures, W–10wt%Cu–10wt%Ag and W–20wt%Ag composite powders showed the most and the least sinterability, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum hardness after sintering at 1200 °C was belonged to W–20wt%Cu sample.