Preparation and mechanical properties of refractory metal carbide reinforced tungsten‒rhenium alloys

Metal carbide doped tungsten‒rhenium alloys were prepared by the traditional pressureless sintering method. The effects of ZrC, TiC, and HfC metal carbides on the microstructures and mechanical properties of tungsten‒rhenium alloys were studied, and the corresponding strengthening mechanisms were also analyzed. The results show that the metal carbides can increase the relative density of tungsten‒rhenium alloys, reduce the grain size, and enhance the corresponding strength. Among ZrC, TiC, and HfC metal carbides, the titanium carbide shows the most significant strengthening effect. The relative density, hardness, and tensile strength at room temperature of the best W–4Re–0.8TiC samples are 96.77%, HV 396.1, and 233 MPa, respectively, which are increased by 4.25%, 21% and 65% compared with the tungsten‒rhenium alloy matrix. Moreover, the as-optimized samples also have the compressive strength of 585 MPa at 1200 ℃, which is 33% higher than that of the tungsten‒rhenium alloy matrix.