Fabricating high performance tungsten alloys through zirconium micro-alloying and nano-sized yttria dispersion strengthening

Pure W, W-0.2wt%Zr (WZ), and W-0.2wt%Zr-1.0wt%Y2O3 (WZY) with a relative density of above 97% were fabricated by spark-plasma-sintering method. The tensile tests indicated that the WZ and WZY alloys exhibited a DBTT between 400 and 500 °C, about 200 °C lower than pure W. The ultimate tensile strength of WZY alloy at 700 °C is 534 MPa, which is 81% and 58% higher than those of WZ alloy (295 MPa) and pure W (337 MPa), respectively. The grain size of WZY alloy is about 3.2 μm, smaller than that of WZ alloy and pure W. Besides, at room temperature the fracture strength and hardness of the WZY alloy is higher than that of pure W. The improved mechanical property of the WZY alloy was suggested to be originated from the enhanced grain boundaries cohesion by Zr micro-alloying and nano-sized yttria dispersion strengthening.