Optimizing the synthesis of ultrafine tungsten carbide powders by effective combinations of carbon sources and atmospheres

In this work WC-powders were obtained by mechanical activation of tungsten and carbon precursors followed by thermal activation of these mixes at temperatures up to 1100 °C. A systematic study has been carried out combining two dissimilar carbon sources (graphite and carbon black), with different atmosphere compositions (Ar, Ar-50H2, Ar-10CO) and studying the evolution of phases at different stages of the synthesis. The results show how the efficiency of the interaction between carbon sources and atmospheres affects the completion of the synthesis. The synthesis of WC from WO3 in H2 containing atmospheres is enhanced when using carbon black sources, however in CO containing atmospheres the most effective interaction is with graphite.