Microwave sintering of W–Ni–Fe alloy

This study compares the effect of heating mode on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 92.5W–6.4Ni–1.1Fe alloy. The compacts were sintered at 1500 °C in a radiatively heated (conventional) furnace and in a 2.45 GHz microwave furnace. Microwave sintering results in about 75% process time reduction, which leads to less W grain coarsening. Furthermore, a lower W concentration in the matrix and lack of intermetallic phase formation results in better mechanical properties in microwave sintered compacts.