THE EFFECT OF A SMALL AMOUNT OF TUNGSTEN ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF MECHANICALLY ALLOYED AG37CU63

A comparative study is performed on mechanically alloyed (MA) Ag37Cu62 W1 and Ag37Cu63 alloys using TEM, XRD, SEM and DSC. The as-prepared Ag -Cu alloys are composed of an amorphous phase and two supersaturated A g-Cu solid solutions in which the 8 at% Ag-Cu solid solution is stable at 300 degrees C. A small amount of tungsten may have a strong influe nce on the microstructure of the MA Ag-Cu alloy. The addition of tungs ten is advantageous for the formation of 8 at% Ag-Cu solid solution wi th increasing milling time and retards grain growth. Cu2O is gradually replaced by W3O during milling in Ag-Cu-W alloy.