Fabrication of W-Cu/La2O3 composite powder with a novel pretreatment prepared by electroless plating and its sintering characterization

W-Cu composite powders were prepared through electroless plating using simplified chemical method. Afterwards, La2O3 is subsequently added as secondary phase to further modify properties. The original W powders, pretreated W powders and W-Cu, W-Cu/La2O3 composite powders were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and energy dispersion spectrometry (EDS). Results show increased superficial area and surface defects are produced on the surface of W particles in the pretreatment process, which easily adsorb foreign substances to build keys to complete electroless plating. The La2O3 particles are also well-distributed on the surface of W-Cu powders and the sintered specimen with a continuous copper phase exhibits optimum performance with the relative density reaching to 92% and superior electrical conductivity of IACS at 46.5%, which doubles the national average of 10.71. The bending strength of W-Cu/La2O3 also reaches to 940 MPa, which is higher than the national standard by 18.99%. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.