Properties of the pulsed electric current sintered Ni-Mn-Ga-Co-WC composites

Abstract Two double dispersion composites were prepared by pulsed electric current sintering (PECS) from two powders on Ni–Mn–Ga–Co/WC–Co system. Composite 1 consists of 90 vol% WC–12Co and 10 vol% of non-modulated Ni–Mn–Ga–Co martensite and Composite 2 of 18 vol% of WC–12Co and 82 vol% of 10 M Ni–Mn–Ga–Co martensite. Damping capabilities of both composites were studied with DMA and cavitation erosion resistance tests. Both composites show promise as candidates as damping element materials when high hardness and wear resistance is required but Composite 2 had a higher damping capability. The high damping ability of composites are proposed to be derived from the combined effect of energy dissipation by twin boundary movement in the Ni–Mn–Ga matrix combined with the high hardness and wear resistance arising from the tungsten carbides.