Enhanced ductility of W–Mo–Cu alloy through the formation of nanometer-to-micrometer-thick dual-phase transition phase layer

Adding an appropriate interfacial layer is a viable way to decrease the W–W contiguity and enhance the interfacial bonding of W–Cu alloy simultaneously, hence increase the tensile ductility. In this regard, we prepared a new kind of W–Mo–Cu alloy with transition phase (TP) existing between W particles and Cu matrix using infiltration method. The TP consisting of amorphous and nanocrystalline structure is formed between the W particles and the Cu matrix. The formation of the TP simultaneously decreases the W–W contiguity and enhances bonding with both W particles and Cu matrix, leading to the good tensile ductility of the W–Mo–Cu alloy. The underlying formation mechanism of the TP is thoroughly studied. The W–Mo–Cu alloy exhibits excellent ductility under both compressive and tensile loading at room temperature. Under the quasi-static tensile loading, the critical failure strain of the W–Mo–Cu alloy is 0.18. Our analysis demonstrates that a strong bonding is formed between the TP and the adjacent phases.