Gleeble Testing of Tungsten Samples
Abstract
The development of a bulk nano-grained tungsten material has been the subject of ongoing research at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. While it has been shown that a powder metallurgy approach can lead to bulk nano-grained tungsten material (1, 2), it has been a persistent challenge to achieve full density. Commercially available tungsten must undergo complex multi-step processes (both hot and cold working) to obtain a fully dense part (3). Similar procedures may need to be developed to produce fully dense nano-crystalline tungsten. One problem with post-processing procedures is that bulk nano-grained materials are often less ductile than their large grained counterparts (4). With conventional commercial tungsten, the brittle nature of the material is overcome by incorporating multi-step hot working procedures. However, for nano-tungsten, recrystallization and grain growth become an issue during processing at elevated temperatures. Commercially, rhenium is often added to tungsten to improve ductility and high temperature stability (5). By adding rhenium to nano-tungsten, enough ductility might be developed to allow for hot working at temperatures low enough to prevent grain growth. Prior to swaging, it needs to be determined whether or not the rhenium addition does impart ductility to nano-tungsten and, if so, at what temperatures and conditions. In order to test the mechanical properties of nano-tungsten with rhenium at high temperatures, the Gleeble unit (a digital version of the 1500 model produced by Dynamic Systems Incorporated, Poestenkill, New York) at ARL was used. The Gleeble is a process simulation machine designed to mimic the thermal and mechanical conditions that arise during processing (6, 7).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA578783
Entities
People
- Brady Butler
- Franklyn Kellogg
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory