Effect of doped Lu2O3 on the microstructures and properties of tungsten alloy prepared by spark plasma sintering

Pure tungsten and W-3 wt.% Lu2O3 samples were fabricated by spark plasma sintering at 1600 °C for 3 min from 4 h ball-milled powders. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Vickers microhardness, and thermal conductivity analyses. Results revealed that doped Lu2O3 particles influenced the densifying and strengthening of W-3 wt.% Lu2O3 composite compared with pure tungsten. The relative density and microhardness of pure tungsten were 93.49% and 446.4 Hv, and those for W-3 wt.% Lu2O3 samples were 96.21% and 551.7 Hv, respectively.