Heat treatable tungsten alloys with improved ballistic performance and method of making the same

Abstract

A tungsten heavy alloy composition comprising tungsten, iron and elements selected from the groups X, Y and Z and having the formula W.sub.100-p Fe.sub.i X.sub.j Y.sub.k Z.sub.l. Such that "X" is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn and Co; "Y" is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo and V; "Z" is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of C, Si, Ti and Al; "i" ranges from 5 to 19.5 weight percent; "j" ranges from 0.05 to 6 weight percent; "k" ranges from 0.15 to 5 weight percent; "l" ranges from 0.05 to 4 weight percent; and "p" is the mathematical sum of i, j, k and l, and ranges from 7 to 20 such that "100-p" ranges from 93 to 80 weight percent. The blended powder mixture thus formed is hot consolidated to full density. The hot consolidated blended powder mixture is subjected to a hardening heat treatment. The WHA composition thus formed is adiabatically shearable with flow-softening characteristics resulting in a material with superior ballistic penetration characteristics. The process of forming the composition consists of first blending quantities of iron powder with elements X, Y and Z to form a matrix of the composition. Quantities of powdered tungsten and the matrix are then blended to form a blended powder mixture which is then hot consolidated to full density. The hot consolidation temperature is selected to achieve full density but less than the intermetallic phase formation temperature between tungsten and iron, i.e. 1050.degree. C. The preferred hot consolidation temperature is at or below 1000.degree. C. The hot consolidated blended powder mixture is then subjected to a hardening heat treatment to form an adiabatically shearable, flow-softening WHA composition which is therefore a predicted superior performing ballistic penetrating armor piercing core material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.