Tungsten alloys for penetrator application and method of making the same

A method for preparing a flow-softening tungsten alloy comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a mixture of metallic powders having the general formula:
• W100-pAiBjCkDe
• wherein W is tungsten;
• A is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, chromium and cobalt;
• B is in or more elements selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, niobium and tantalum;
• C is one or more of the elements selected from the groups consisting of titanium and aluminum;
• D is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of boron, carbon, and silicon;
• i is from about 5 to about 8 weight percent;
• j is from 0 to about 4 weight percent;
• k is from about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent;
• l is from 0 to about 0.1 weight percent;
• and p is greater than or equal to about 7 weight percent and less than or equal to about 20 weight percent;
• and
• (b) hot consolidating the mixture formed in step (a).

A kinetic energy penetrator comprised of a composition having the general formula:

• W100-pAiBjCkDe
• wherein W is tungsten;
• A is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, chromium and cobalt;
• B is in or more elements selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, niobium and tantalum;
• C is one or more of the elements selected from the groups consisting of titanium and aluminum;
• D is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of boron, carbon, and silicon;
• i is from about 5 to about 8 weight percent;
• j is from 0 to about 4 weight percent;
• k is from about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent;
• l is from 0 to about 0.1 weight percent;
• and p is greater than or equal to about 7 weight percent and less than or equal to about 20 weight percent.