Effects of low-content activators on low-temperature sintering of tungsten

Tungsten compacts are processed by the activated sintering technique at low temperatures near 1200 degrees C, whereby either nickel, iron or a combination of the two are employed as additives. Despite very small contents of additives of a few monolayers and below,the processing technique is found viable for providing enhancing effects to the sintering kinetics of tungsten, and the sintered materials remain in the partially densified stage. Nickel is proved to be a superior activator, which induces a reduction of the activation energy as its content increases. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.