Fabrication of W–20%Cu composite powder from copper and tungsten salts

Abstract

An investigation has been made to prepare homogeneous powders of CuWO₄ and WO₃ from ammonium paratungstate and copper nitrate to prepare nanosized W–Cu powder. Hence, a mixture of ammonium paratungstate and copper nitrate with predetermined weight proportion was made in distilled water; while the content of the beaker was being stirred at a certain speed to reach the desired composition of W–20 wt-%Cu. Mixture was heated to 80–100°C for 6 h. Also, pH range was adjusted at about 3–4. The mixture was then evaporated and dried in the air. To reach W–Cu composite powder, the precursor powders burned out at 520°C for 2 h in the air to form W–Cu oxide powder and then were ball milled and reduced in H₂ atmosphere to convert it into W–Cu composite powder. The resulting powders were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis techniques. The results showed that homogeneous powders of W–Cu with particle size of ∼100 nm and a nearly spherical shape could be obtained by this process.

Keywords:

• NANOSIZED W&NDASH
• CU POWDER
• DECOMPOSITION
• CALCINATION TEMPERATURE
• REDUCTION TEMPERATURE