WCu　composite　powders　were　prepared　by　the　sol-gel　method　with　Cu(NO3)(2)center　dot　3H(2)O　and　(NH4)(6)H2W12O40　center　dot　5H(2)O　as　raw　materials　and　citric　acid　as　chelating　reagent.　The　composition,　morphology　and　particle　size　of　the　powders　were　studied　by　XRD　and　TEM.　TEM　observation　results　show　that　the　particle　size　of　WCu　powders　is　about　100　nm　after　reduction　and　the　W　grains　were　covered　homogeneously　by　Cu　on　the　surface.　The　reduction　behavior　and　mechanism　of　the　oxide　powders　were　analyzed　systematically.　Temperature　programmed　reduction　(TPR)　result　indicates　that　the　appropriate　two-step　reduction　temperatures　are　500　and　700　degrees　C.　The　FT-IR　analyses　reveal　that　the　bond　of　W-O-W　is　weakened　due　to　the　bond　of　Cu-O-W,　leading　to　the　increase　of　the　reduction　properties　of　the　WCu　composite　oxide　powders.