Synthesis of Nanostructured Tungsten Carbide Powders from Mechanically Activated Mixes of Tungsten Oxide with Different Carbon Sources

Paper in proceeding, 2013

Nanostructured WC powders which provide fine microstructures after sintering, can significantly improve mechanical properties of WC-based hard materials. Synthesis of such nanostructured WC powders from tungsten oxide has been achieved in presence of carbon by a two-step process: Mechanical Activation of initial powders (by milling), followed by Thermal Activation of the mixes. In the second step, the necessary reduction reactions followed by carburization reactions take place. The effect of both milling parameters and carbon source type on the effectiveness of the reduction-carburization reactions is studied in this work. The efficiency of the carburization process for synthesis of nanostructured tungsten carbide powders is discussed based on the effect of the type of carbon source used, and the characteristics of the milled powders.