Behaviors of ultrafine tungsten powder by electrical explosion of wire

Ultrafine tungsten powders have been produced by electrical explosion of wires (EEW) method. Thin W metal wire was discharged by pulsed power of high voltage in argon atmosphere. From the oxidation and combustion of nanopowders in air, it was found that the W powder contained /spl alpha/- and /spl beta/-W phases, where the combustion product of W powder was WO/sub 3/. However, the W powder did not form nitrides during combustion as Al powder did.