Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Tungsten Powder

Kinetic energy projectiles and shaped charge liners as well as explosively formed projectile warheads would be more effective if tungsten having significant room temperature ductility were available. Nano-sized particles are known to provide these levels of desired ductility. In this Phase I effort, we propose three different approaches to producing tungsten nano-particles. Each technology is unique and nano-particles will be produced under optim processing conditions. In Phase II we will concentrate on one of the three approaches, optimize the processing parameters so that mechanical properties evaluation and fabrication of a penetrator shape will be feasible.