Effect of Transition Metal Layer on Bending and Interfacial Properties of W/TiN/Ta-Laminated Composite

The widespread applications of W in the fusion reactor are limited by its low-temperature brittleness, recrystallization brittleness, and irradiation-induced brittleness. Many toughening methods were used to improve the brittleness of W, such as adding second-phase particles, adding W fibers, preparing laminated composite, and so on. Among these, preparing laminated W-based composites has been proven to effectively improve both the low-temperature and high-temperature toughness of W. In this study, W/M/TiN/Ta-laminated composites with transition metal layer (M) were synthesized through the spark plasma sintering (SPS) at three different temperatures. The effects of nano-scale (Ni, Ti, and Cr) and micron-scale (Ni, Ti, and V) transition layers on the bending and interfacial properties of the W/M/TiN/Ta composite were studied via an electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Compared with W/TiN/Ta, the flexural strength and strain of W/Ni(nm)/TiN/Ta were increased by 25.6% and 17.6%, respectively. Ni, Ti, and V micron transition layers can improve the combination of the W–TiN interface and decrease the joining temperature. The micron V layer has the best strengthening effect. The flexural strength of W/V/TiN/Ta reached 1294 MPa, much higher than W/Ta’s 1041 MPa.