Acoustic emission characterization of deformation and fracture in heavy alloys.

The acoustic emission generated during tensile loading of a typical heavy alloy, of 90 w/o tungsten, was investigated. In this study, as sintered and post sintered heat treated tensile samples, loaded to failure, were employed. Post sintering heat treatments caused a change in the failure mode from interfacial debonding to fracture of the tungsten spheres and resulted in marked effects on both mechanical properties and acoustic emission. As a result of heat treatment, these two regions of yielding and fracture phenomena became well separated. In addition, heat treatment gives rise to a third region of acoustic emission activity.