Ablation properties of W-Cu wire prepared by hot swaging

The microstructure, phase composition and mass variation of W-Cu wire made by loose packing infiltration-hot swaging were studied by scanning electrical microscopy. The results show that the W-Cu wire constitutes tungsten phase and copper phase, the tungsten particles embed in copper phase to form a network structure. As electrode, the splashing and volatilization of copper phase happen along both cross range and longitudinal direction, only tungsten skeleton is left, its mass ablation rate is larger. As burned material, the copper phase all volatilizes close to the electrode, the tungsten skeleton exposed under the high arc temperature forms fragile oxides, which present needle structure. The wire surface appears alligator cracking far from the electrode and its mass ablation rate is relatively smaller.