Tungsten Copper Alloy

What's Tungsten Copper Alloy?

Tungsten copper alloy (Copper Tungsten Alloy, CuW, or WCu) is a pseudo-alloy of copper and tungsten. As copper and tungsten are not mutually soluble, the material is composed of distinct particles of one metal dispersed in a matrix of the other one. The alloy combines the properties of both metals, resulting in a material that is heat-resistant, ablation-resistant, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and easy to machine. Parts are made from the WCu alloy by pressing the tungsten particles into a desired shape, sintering the compacted part, then infiltrating with molten copper. Sheets, rods and bars of the alloy are available as well.

Main Composite and Properties

Type  Density (g/cm3)  Conductivity HB (MPa)  Size (mm) 
WCu50 11.9~12.3 ≥55 %IACS 1130~1180 Rod: Ø1~50 
Length<300 
Sheet: 
Width<190 
Length<300 
Special type:
Width<190 
Length<300
WCu40 12.8~13.0 ≥47 %IACS ≥1375
WCu30 13.8~14.4 ≥42 %IACS ≥1720
WCu20 15.2~15.6 ≥34 %IACS ≥2160
WCu10 16.8~17.2 ≥27 %IACS ≥2550
WCu7 17.3~17.8 ≥26 %IACS ≥2900


tungsten copper parts picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tungsten copper parts provided by us are all with these properties. The electrical and thermal properties of the alloy vary with different proportions. Copper increases the thermal conductivity, which plays a huge part when being used in circuit breakers. Electrical resistivity with an increase in the percentage of tungsten present in the alloy, ranging from 3.16 at 55% tungsten to 6.1 when the alloy contains 90% tungsten. An increase in tungsten leads to an increase in ultimate tensile strength up until the alloy reaches 80% tungsten and 20% copper with an ultimate tensile strength of 663 MPa. After this mixture of copper and tungsten, the ultimate tensile strength then begins to decrease fairly rapidly.

Manufacturing Process

Part of the mixed powder sintering process copper infiltration method generally has the following two: Cu powder and 0.5% to 2.5% additives (typically nickel powder) - press molding - sintering - copper infiltration. The process is simple; this method is suitable for manufacturing Cu> 20% tungsten-copper composite. Various methods to the production of tungsten copper materials, copper distribution along the tungsten grain boundaries, the tungsten skeleton strength is not as good as the high-temperature sintering method, as this method of asking too much of raw materials, ingredients, or the product will contain more impurities and gases. BW powder - +2.5% Cu powder + static acid - was added to the appropriate melt composite adhesive agent (containing 35% polypropylene, 60% paraffin wax, 5% satiric acid) - the cooling granulation injection form - binder removal - heptanes - 3C% / min heating to 500C, 10C/min heating to 900C - transferred to the high-temperature sintering furnace cooling - heating 10C/min to 1030C - to 10C/min heated to 1200-16200C Melting leaching - cooled to room temperature. The manufacturing process of tungsten copper plates are according to these steps, which owns properties of tungsten and copper.

Applications

Copper tungsten alloy is used in a product or part requires high heat resistance, low thermal expansion and high electrical or thermal conductivity. Tungsten copper is used to fabricate engines and electrical devices. It is also used in the fields of aviation and spaceflight. Electrodes, refractory parts, heat sinks, rocket parts and electrical contacts are all made by copper tungsten alloy. The alloy is also made into sheet metal, tubing and plate metal. Copper tungsten alloy is used to make contacts for both high and medium voltage electrical devices, and for high speed steel devices and switches.
WCu rods picture
WCu rods have been widely used in Spark Erosion and Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) process. In general, this process is used with graphite, but tungsten has a high melting point. This allows the CuW electrodes to have a longer service life than the graphite electrodes. This is crucial when the electrodes have been processed with complex machining. Since the electrodes are susceptible to wear the electrodes provide more geometrical accuracy than the other electrodes. These properties also let the rods and tubes manufactured for spark erosion be smaller in diameter and longer in length since the material is less likely to chip and warp.

We specialize in manufacturing and offering tungsten related products for more than 20 years, and can provide WCu alloy as bellows:

Copper Tungsten Alloy Electrode

tungsten copper electrode picture

Our copper tungssten alloy electrode is suitable for EDM machining of those materials.
Advantages: low wear, high contour sharpness,good machinability.
Tungsten copper electrode is a good use of high-purity tungsten metal powder and high purity characteristics of the plasticity of copper powder.
Tungsten copper electrodes can be divided into EDM electrode, high-voltage electrode discharge tube and electronic packaging materials.

Copper Tungsten Alloy Bar

copper tungsten alloy bar picture

Specification:Thickness>1mm;Width<200mm;Length<300mm;
Because of the high eletrical conductivity and low consumption, copper tungsten alloy bar are widely used to make grid siderod, lead, support, electrode for the gas discharge lamp.
Copper tungsten alloy bar is composed of tungsten and copper, which own the excellent performances of tungsten and copper, such as good heat-resistant, ablate-resistant, high-intensity, excellent thermal and electrical conductivity.

Copper Tungsten Alloy Heat Sink

tungsten copper alloy heat sink picture

Copper tungsten alloy  is widely used as heat sinks concerning with radiator for car, refrigeration and air conditioning systems because of its low thermal expansion, heat-resistant, ablate-resistant, excellent thermal and electrical conductivity.
Copper tungsten alloy heat sinks galvanically plated with Ni or NiAu or electroless Ni plated Semi-finished products: up to 100x100mm with a thickness of 0.5 to 50mm. Tungsten copper heat sink with advantages of high thermal conductivity, excellent hermeticity and excellent flatness.

Copper Tungsten Electrical Contacts

tungsten copper electrical contacts picture

Electrical contacts are subjected to extreme mechanical and thermal stresses during operation. For fractions of a second, temperatures rise to several thousand degrees as a result of the arcing.
Our copper tungsten alloy materials are used owing to their unique physical properties.
Copper tungsten alloy electrical contacts have good resistance to arc erosion, mechanical wear, contact welding and good conductivity.
Copper tungsten alloy electrical contacts are widely used as contact tips and contact electrode.

Any feedback or inquiry of Tungsten Copper Alloy Products please feel free to contact us:
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
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