Swaging of liquid phase sintered 90W–7Ni–3Fe tungsten heavy alloy

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of swaging on the microstructure and mechanical properties of vacuum sintered 90W–7Ni–3Fe alloys. Cold isostatically pressed samples were sintered under vacuum at 1510 °C, for 30 min. Samples were then 15% cold rotary swaged. The study has shown that, mechanical properties of relatively low density (< 98% theoretical) liquid phase sintered 90W–7Ni–3Fe alloy can be considerably improved by swaging due to increase in density and strain hardening.

► Swaging of vacuum sintered W–Ni–Fe alloy with relatively low density improved the mechanical properties considerably. ► Vacuum sintering of tungsten heavy alloy led to relatively low density due to incomplete oxide reduction. ► Fracture mode in vacuum sintered samples is intergranular. ► In swaged samples dominant fracture mode is transgranular and ductile matrix failure.