Abstract

Cu-10wt%W composite powders have been manufactured by a high energy ball milling technique. The composite powders were pressed at 250 MPa and sintered in a dry hydrogen at 1030°C for 4 hours. After sintering, Cu-10wt%W composite materials were forged. And the arc-resistance of forged materials which have the same relative density of 94% has been tested. Composite particles, i.e. tungsten particles distributed homogeneously in the copper matrix, was formed after 480 min mechanical alloying. Densities of these sintered materials were ranged from 74 to 84%. Densification degree was due to the formation of composite powders. As the mechanical alloying time increased, the hardness was increased and tungsten particle size was decreased. Arc loss of the forged specimens was decreased as increasing the mechanical alloying time.