The results of structure and mechanical properties investigations of tungsten heavy alloy (THA) after cyclic sintering are presented. The

material for study was prepared using liquid phase sintering of mixed and compacted powders in hydrogen atmosphere. The specimens in

shape of rods were subjected to different number of sintering cycles according to the heating schemes given in the main part of the paper

From the specimens the samples for mechanical testing and structure investigations were prepared. It follows from the results of the

mechanical studies, that increasing of sintering cycles lead to decrease of tensile strength and elongation of THA with either small or no

influence on yield strength. In opposite to that, the microstructure observations showed that the size of tungsten grain increases with

number of sintering cycles. Moreover, scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations revealed distinctly more trans-granular cleavage

mode of fracture in specimens subjected to large number of sintering cycles compared with that after one or two cycles only.

The results of structure observations of Ni base superalloy subjected to long-term influence of high pressure hydrogen atmosphere at 750K

and 850K are presented. The structure investigation were carried out using conventional light-, scanning- (SEM) and transmission electron

microscopy (TEM). The results presented here are supplementary to the mechanical studies given in part I of this investigations. The

results of study concerning mechanical properties degradation and structure observations show that the differences in mechanical

properties of alloy subjected different temperature are caused by more advanced processes of structure degradation during long-term aging

at 850K, compare to that at 750K. Higher service temperature leads to formation of large precipitates of δ phase. The nucleation and

growth of needle- and/or plate-like, relative large delta precipitates proceed probably at expense strengthening γ" phases. Moreover, it can't

be excluded that the least stable γ" phase is replaced with more stable γ' precipitates. TEM observations have disclosed differences in

dislocation structure of alloy aged at 750K and 850K. The dislocation observed in alloy subjected to 750K are were seldom observed only,

while in that serviced at high stress and 850K dislocation array and dislocation cell structure was typical.

The results of studies of W-Ni-Co-Fe experimental alloy, with chemical composition assuring a possibility of producing Ni-based supersaturated solid solution are presented. The alloy was prepared from tungsten, nickel, cobalt and iron powders which were first mixed then melted in a ceramic crucible where they slowly solidified in hydrogen atmosphere. Next specimens were cut from the casting and heated at a temperature 950o C. After solution treatment the specimens were water quenched and then aged for 20 h at a temperature 300o C. The specimens were subjected to microhardness measurements and structure investigations. The latter included both conventional metallography and SEM observations. Moreover, for some specimens X-ray diffractometry studies and TEM investigations were conducted. It was concluded that quenching lead to an increase of tungsten concentration in nickel matrix which was confirmed by Ni lattice parameter increase. Aging of supersaturated solid solution caused strengthening of the Ni-based matrix, which was proved by hardness measurements. The TEM observation did not yield explicit proofs that the precipitation process could be responsible for strengthening of the alloy.