Synthesis and densification of W–Cu, W–Cu–Ag and W–Ag composite powders via a chemical precipitation method

•Chemical precipitation method for synthesis of W–Cu, W–Cu–Ag and W–Ag nanopowders.•Surveying sintering temperature effect on density and hardness of powders compacts.•Increasing sintering temperature increased density and hardness of all samples.•At all sintering temperatures, increasing silver decreased samples’ hardness.•Maximum and minimum density was for W–Cu–Ag and W–Ag samples, respectively.

This research was undertaken with an aim of making a comparison between W–Cu, W–Cu–Ag and W–Ag composites. In this way, nanostructured W–20wt%Cu, W–10wt%Cu–10wt%Ag and W–20wt%Ag composite powders were prepared by calcination of chemically precipitated initial powders and a subsequent reduction treatment. The powders were characterized using XRD and SEM analysis. The sintering behavior and hardness of samples were also investigated as a function of temperature. The sintered samples were evaluated by SEM. The results showed that at all sintering temperatures, W–10wt%Cu–10wt%Ag and W–20wt%Ag composite powders showed the most and the least sinterability, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum hardness after sintering at 1200 °C was belonged to W–20wt%Cu sample.