Engineering

Fabrication

Forging

Metallurgy

Materials science

Tungsten

Refractory metals

Physical chemistry

Mechanical engineering

Alternative medicine

Alloy

Brazing

Composite material

Heat sink

Medicine

Chemistry

Electrical contacts

Electrode

Electric arc

Welding

Pathology

Copper

International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials

Tungsten copper (W-Cu) composites, as a traditional refractory material, are promising materials for manufacture of electrical contacts and electrodes, heavy duty electronic contacts, welding and electro-forging dies, heat sinks, packaging material, arcing resistance electrodes and thermal management devices owing to their excellent properties. This critical review presents and discusses the current progress of W-Cu composites. Starting with an introduction of the synthesis methods for W-Cu composites, including the conventional and modern preparation approaches. After that we focus on the description of the improvement of mechanical properties and arc-erosion properties by modification techniques. Finally, the advantages of W-Cu composites in applications such as electrical contacts, electronic packaging materials, and heat sinks, as well as military materials, are described, respectively.

Recent progress in development of tungsten-copper composites: Fabrication, modification and applications