Elevated temperature compressive failure behavior of a 30Â vol.%ZrCp/W composite

The elevated temperature deformation behavior of a 30 vol.%ZrCp/W composite was tested on a Gleeble-1500D thermo-mechanical simulation device under a uniaxial compressive load. The micro-failure behavior of the composite is strongly affected by the adhesive strength of ZrC/W interface and the distribution of ZrC particles. The computational results by EET theory indicate that the adhesive strength of (Zr, W)C interface is higher than that of ZrC. The microcrack initiation and propagation mechanism varies with the deformation temperature. TEM results show that the initiation and propagation of the microcracks occur in three steps in 1300-1600 °C.