Enhancing electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of W-Cu composites with additional Ag/La2O3 hybrid

W-Cu composites with Ag/La2O3 hybrid addition were prepared through pressure-free sintering at different sintering temperatures from 900 to 1200 degrees C. Microstructure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of W-Cu composites with additional Ag/La2O3 hybrid were analyzed. Microstructural observation showed that Ag was partially solubilized into Cu to generate Cu-Ag solid solution during the sintering, while Ag aggregation and La2O3 dispersion were found in the Cu matrix. The higher sintering temperature reduced the porosity of the sintered bulk composites. W-Cu composites with Ag/La2O3 hybrid addition possessed the higher values of electrical conductivity, hardness and strength at each sintering temperature, and the optimum sintering temperature was 1100 degrees C, at which Ag/La2O3 hybrid reached enhancement in properties comparing with W-Cu composites.