La2O3-reinforced W and W-V alloys produced by hot isostatic pressing

W and W-V alloys reinforced with La2O3 particles have been produced by MA and subsequent HIP at 1573 K and 195 MPa. The microstructure of the consolidated alloys has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical properties were studied by nanoindentation measurements. The results show that practically full dense billets of W-V, W-V-La2O3 and W-La2O3 alloys can be produced. The microstructure analysis has shown that islands of V are present in W-V and W-V-1La(2)O(3) alloys. In W-1La(2)O(3) islands of La2O3 are also present. The nanohardness of the W matrix increases with the addition of V. while decreases with the addition of La2O3. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.