SPS fabrication of tungsten-rhenium alloys in support of NTR fuels development

Jonathan A. Webb, Indrajit Charit, Cory Sparks, Darryl P. Butt, Megan Frary, Mark Carroll

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tungsten metal slugs were fabricated via Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) of powdered metals at temperatures ranging from 1575 K to 1975 K and hold times of 5 minutes to 30 minutes, using powders with an average diameter of 7.8 μm. Sintered tungsten specimens were found to have relative densities ranging from 83% to 94% of the theoretical density for tungsten. Consolidated specimens were also tested for their Vickers Hardness Number (VHN), which were plotted as a function of relative density. Concurrently, tungsten and rhenium powders with average respective diameters of 0.5 μm and 13.3 μm were pre-processed either by High-Energy-Ball-Milling (HEBM) or by homogeneous mixing to yield W-25at.%Re mixtures. The powder batches were sintered at temperatures of 1975 K and 2175 K for hold times up to 60 minutes yielding relative densities in the range 94% to 97%. The combination of HEBM and sintering showed a significant decrease in the intermetallic phases compared to that of the homogenous mixing and sintering.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011
Pages642-648
Number of pages7
StatePublished - 2011
EventNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011 - Albuquerque, NM, United States
Duration: 7 Feb 201110 Feb 2011

Publication series

NameNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011

Conference

ConferenceNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAlbuquerque, NM
Period7/02/1110/02/11

Keywords

  • Nuclear propulsion
  • Space reactors
  • Spark plasma sintering
  • Tungsten alloys

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