Tungsten fiber reinforced copper-based composites were successfully fabricated by a new method called combustion synthesis melt infiltration under ultra-high gravity. Between the tungsten fibers and the copper matrix, an interlayer consisting of W₁₈O₄₉ needles was observed at the surface of the pickled tungsten fibers. The interfacial strength was measured by the push-out test. For the tungsten fibers with a WO₃ surface layer, the failure happened at the interface between the WO₃ layer and the copper matrix by the debonding failure mechanism. For the case with the formation of a W₁₈O₄₉ interlayer, the failure happened at the interface between the W₁₈O₄₉ interlayer and tungsten fibers by the brittle failure model, which improved the interfacial strength.

Materials & Design, 2015