Influence of La2O3 addition on hardness, flexural strength and microstructure of hot-pressing sintered WC-MgO bulk composites

► The possibility of preparing high-hardness and flexural-fracture-strength WC-MgO composite with adding La2O3 using hot-pressing sintering method. ► Adding trace La2O3 suppresses the decarburization during the hot-pressing sintering. ► Adding trace La2O3 promotes the microstructural refinement. ► Adding trace La2O3 enhances the particulate dispersion homogeneity and the particulate/matrix interfacial coherence.