A novel route to prepare ultrafine-grained WC–Co cemented carbides

A new way of synthesizing pure WC–Co composite powder by in situ reduction and carbonization reactions of WO2.9, Co3O4 and carbon black powders is presented. The ultrafine-grained cemented carbide bulk has been prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) the composite powder. The preparation process, microstructure, and properties of the composite powder and the bulk were investigated and characterized. Both the temperature and time in the present method of combing reduction and carbonization reactions and SPS technique are apparently reduced as compared with the conventional methods. The resultant WC–Co bulk shows a homogeneous fine-grain microstructure and good combined mechanical properties.