High temperature electrical resistivities of ZrC particle–reinforced tungsten-matrix composites

High temperature electrical resistivities of ZrC p/W composites prepared by hot-pressing had been continuously tested in a temperature range of RT–900 °C. A semi-theoretical model for predicting the effect of microstructure, ZrC particle content, and temperature on electrical resistivities of ZrC p/W composites was proposed by decomposing a basic unit of particle–reinforced metal-matrix composites (PMMC) into the basic series and parallel circuits of metal-matrix and particle. Experimental high temperature electrical resistivities of ZrC p/W composites agree well with the theoretical prediction.