On structure property correlation in high strength tungsten heavy alloys

Detailed structure-property correlation has been carried out in high strength tungsten heavy alloys. Alloys of compositions 90W-6Ni-2Fe-2Co, 89W-6Ni-2Fe-3Co, 89.5W-6Ni-2Fe-2Co-0.5Mo, 89.75W-6Ni-2Fe-2Co-0.25Mo, 90W-6Ni-1.5Fe-2.5Co and 90W-6Ni-1Fe-3Co have been prepared by liquid phase sintering followed by large deformation during thermo mechanical processing and studied for microstructure and mechanical properties. Despite differences in composition, higher volume fraction of matrix and lower W-W contiguity in the microstructure result in superior tensile strength and impact toughness. Increasing W content in the matrix enhances mechanical properties by imparting solid solution strengthening, increasing the matrix volume fraction and reducing W-W contiguity. The alloy 90W-6Ni-1Fe-3Co shows superior balance of properties with ultimate tensile strength of 1600 MPa and average impact toughness of 121 J/cm2.