Development and characterization of the porous tungsten matrix obtaining process for dispenser thermionic cathode

W-Cu composites were used as starter materials of the thermionic cathode matrices for microwave tubes. However the decopperization affects their microstructure. An apparatus and an experimental procedure were developed to reduce the damages introduced during the decopperization. The matrix porosity (34.6%) was analyzed by SEM and its composition was determined by EDX.