Bulk ultrafine binderless (W0.4Al0.6)C prepared by high pressure sintering

Pure (W0.4Al0.6)C powder of about 1 μm in diameter was sintered by the high pressure sintering (HPS) process without the addition of any binder phase. The microstructure, Vickers micro hardness and density versus the sintering time and temperature are well described. The most suitable sintering condition under pressure of 4.5 GPa is 1873 K for 8 min. Under this sintering condition, the hardness can reach 2295 kg mm−2 and the relative density can reach 98.6%.