Synthesis and characterization of tungsten carbide fine powders

Fine tungsten carbide (WC) powder was prepared by solid state reaction between tungsten powder (W) and activated carbon cloth as a new carbon (C) source. The effect of temperature and time of heat treatment as well as the effect of C/W ratio on WC phase formation was studied. The results obtained by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) show that obtained powder is single WC. Microstructure and morphology was determinate by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method was used for examining specific surface area and texture of obtained powders. It was found that WC powder was successfully synthesized in excess carbon after eight-hour heat treatment at relatively low temperature (1000 °C).