Fabrication of W–Cu/La2O3 composite powder with a novel pretreatment prepared by electroless plating and its sintering characterization

•W-Cu/La2O3 composite powder was prepared by electroless plating with a novel pretreatment.•The addition of La2O3 affected the properties of composites.•The bending strength of W–Cu/La2O3 composite reaches to 940 MPa.

W–Cu composite powders were prepared through electroless plating using simplified chemical method. Afterwards, La2O3 is subsequently added as secondary phase to further modify properties. The original W powders, pretreated W powders and W–Cu, W–Cu/La2O3 composite powders were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and energy dispersion spectrometry (EDS). Results show increased superficial area and surface defects are produced on the surface of W particles in the pretreatment process, which easily adsorb foreign substances to build keys to complete electroless plating. The La2O3 particles are also well-distributed on the surface of W–Cu powders and the sintered specimen with a continuous copper phase exhibits optimum performance with the relative density reaching to 92% and superior electrical conductivity of IACS at 46.5%, which doubles the national average of 10.71. The bending strength of W–Cu/La2O3 also reaches to 940 MPa, which is higher than the national standard by 18.99%.

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