COPPER-MATRIX MOLYBDENUM PARTICLE COMPOSITES MADE FROM COPPER COATED MOLYBDENUM POWDER

Copper-matrix molybdenum particle composites containing 33 similar to 73 wt.% Mo were fabricated by hot pressing copper coated molybdenum powder. For comparison, corresponding composites fabricated by hot pressing a mixture of copper and molybdenum powders were also made. The former method gave composites of lower porosity, higher hardness, higher compressive yield strength, lower coefficient of thermal expansion, lower electrical resistivity and higher thermal conductivity than the latter method. These differences are partly due to the separation of the molybdenum particles by the copper coating in the former case. In contrast, molybdenum particle clustering occurred in the latter case when the Mo content exceeded 53 wt.%.