Effect of SrCO₃ content by mass on the microstructure and properties of tungsten alloy electrode materials

The effects of SrCO₃ content by mass on the microstructure and properties of tungsten alloy electrode materials were investigated, such as relative density, hardness, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. It is shown that, the microstructures can be hardly affected by the mass fraction of SrCO₃ in the range of 3%~7%. Sr₃WO₆ cluster is present, when the SrCO₃ mass fraction increases to 10%, leading to the locally uneven microstructures. The relative density of tungsten alloy gradually decreases with the SrCO₃ mass fraction increase; when the SrCO₃ mass fraction reaches 10%, the reduction tendency becomes dramatically. As to other properties, such as electrical, thermal conductivity, and hardness, the results have the same tendency. In sum, the optimum mass fraction of SrCO₃ is 7%.