Microwave and conventional sintering of 90W–7Ni–3Cu alloys with premixed and prealloyed binder phase

The present study investigates the possibility of consolidating premixed 90W–7Ni–3Cu alloy – designated as 90W–PM (Ni–Cu) – through microwave sintering. An attempt has been made to compare the results between microwave and conventionally sintered samples. This study also compares the sintering behavior of 90W–7Ni–3Cu with prealloyed 90W–PA (Ni–Cu) in both conventional as well as microwave furnace at various temperatures. The comparative analysis is based on the sintered density, densification parameter, hardness and microstructures of the samples. The present investigation also includes the variation of matrix composition as a function of temperature by EPMA analysis. The results show that microwave sintering requires about 75% less processing time than required by conventional method and still provides better physical and mechanical properties.