Fabrication and properties of W–20Cu alloy reinforced by titanium coated carbon fibers

[Display omitted] ► This paper adopted SPS process to prepare the Ti-coated CFs/W–20Cu composites. ► With small amount of Ti-coated CFs, composites without impurities were obtained. ► 1.0 wt.% Ti-coated CFs were homogeneously dispersed in the W–20Cu alloy. ► TRS and TC of the composites were enhanced 33% and 36%, respectively. Carbon fibers were coated with titanium by vacuum slow vapor deposition. W–20Cu composite powder was prepared by spray drying and calcining-continuous reduction technology. Titanium coated carbon fibers and W–20Cu composite powder were mixed by ball-milling in ethanol solution. This paper adopted spark plasma sintering process to prepare titanium coated carbon fibers/W–20Cu composites. Effects of doping amounts of titanium coated carbon fibers on the phases, microstructure and properties of the composites were investigated. Titanium coated carbon fibers/W–20Cu composites with improved mechanical properties and thermal conductivity were fabricated. Transverse rupture strength and thermal conductivity of the 1.0 wt.% titanium-coated carbon fibers/W–20Cu composites, compared with the monolithic W–20Cu alloy, were enhanced 33% and 36%, respectively. With small doping amount of titanium-coated carbon fibers, the composites without WC, W 2C and graphite phases were obtained.