On the possibility of the incorporation of Al into the WC lattice

•The possibility of Al incorporation in the WC lattice was experimentally and theoretically evaluated.•Disagreement with literature data regarding the existence of (W,Al)C hard phase and (W,Al)C–Co hardmetals was found.•The solubility of Al in WC was concluded to be either nonexistent or very low.

The formation of (W0.5Al0.5)C1−x by solid state reaction of mechanically alloyed WAl powders with carbon at 1400 °C and the preparation of sintered bodies with and without binder metals have been described in the literature. In this study, similar routes were used to prepare (W0.5Al0.5)C1−x powders and sintered bodies. However, no evidence of solution of Al in the WC lattice was found. The results were critically compared with the results of previous investigations in light of crystallographic considerations. Unlike in the literature, the solubility of Al in WC was concluded to be either nonexistent or very low.