High temperature tensile properties of 30 vol. pct ZrCp/W composite

In order to improve the high temperature strength of tungsten, 30 vol. pct ZrC particles were added to the tungsten matrix to form a 30ZrC(p)/W composite. The tensile properties from 20degreesC to 1880degreesC of the composite were examined. It was shown that with increasing testing temperature, the nonlinearity of the stress strain curve of 30ZrC(p)/W composite becames obvious over 1200degreesC and the Young's modulus decreases and the elongation increases. The ultimate tensile strength increases at first and then decreases with increasing testing temperature. The maximum strength of 431 MPa was obtained at 1000degreesC. The strengthening mechanism at high temperatures is the load transfer to ZrC particles and dislocation strengthening of the tungsten matrix with an effect of grain boundary strengthening.