Impregnation of High purity Ba-Ca aluminate on a porous tungsten matrix obtained from W-Cu composite for TWT thermionic cathodes

Impregnated thermionic cathodes production was the main objective of this work. The W-30wt.%Cu composite was sintered by induction heating (1200°C). The porous matrix was obtained after decopperization (1600°C). High purity Ba-Ca aluminate was impregnated (1630°C). The amount of aluminate impregnated was 18.32wt.%. Microstructure, porosity, and particle sizes distribution were determined.