High temperature tensile properties of 30 vol. pct ZrC_p/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 20°C to 1880°C of the composite were examined. It is shown that with the increase of testing temperature, the nonlinearity of the stress strain curve of the 30ZrC_p/W composite becomes obvious over 1200°C, the Young's modulus decreases and the elongation increases. The ultimate tensile strength increases at first and then decreases with the increase of testing temperature. The maximum strength of 431 MPa can be obtained at 1000°C. The strengthening mechanism at high temperature is the load transfer effect of ZrC particles and the dislocation strengthening of the tungsten matrix with an effect of grain boundary strengthening.