Novel low temperature derived Wf/W-ZrC-Cu composites by reactive infiltration with enhanced mechanical and thermal physical properties

Wf/W-ZrC-Cu composites with densities over 95% have been prepared by infiltrating Zr -Cu binary molten alloys into porous Wf/W + WC preforms at 1200-1400 & DEG;C. The hybrid strengthening of in-situ formed ZrC particles, and the addition of continuous Wf have made the composites improved flexure strength and fracture toughness of 612 MPa and 10.41 MPa m1/2, respectively. The residual Cu provided a moderate interface between Wf and W-ZrC matrix, which was beneficial to improved fracture energy of 2-3.103 J m-2 and thermal conductivity of over 80 W (m K)-1. The Wf impeded cracks and new surfaces to the ultra-high temperature air plasma torch. The composites thus possess superior thermal shock resistance, and the linear and mass ablation rates reduced to 0.40 mm s-1and 0.0112 g s-1, respectively. This study provides a novel approach for the fabrication of refractory fiber reinforced refractory metal/carbide based composites with excellent comprehensive properties at relatively low temperatures.& COPY; 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).