SiC/Cu composites with tungsten coating prepared by powder metallurgy

Abstract

A tungsten coating on SiC particles was produced using a sol–gel technique followed by reduction treatment in hydrogen for the first time. The microstructure and properties of Cu composites reinforced with as received and W coated SiC particles were studied. Experimental results showed that the W coating could effectively improve the wettability and increase the interfacial bonding between SiC and Cu. The fracture mechanism of SiC/Cu composites was found to change from interface debonding to matrix tearing owing to the introduction of W coating. The W coating also increased the thermal conductivity of SiC/Cu composites.