Synthesis of W2C by reactive hot pressing and its mechanical properties

Abstract

Tungsten hemicarbide W2C with no or small amounts of W or WC was prepared by reaction-sintering from W and WC powders using a resistance-heated hot-pressing technique called spark plasma sintering. The product phases, density, microstructure, elastic moduli, hardness, and fracture toughness of the sintered bodies were determined. The stable region of the W2C phase had a narrow carbon content below 1860°C. W2C had a Poisson's ratio of 0.286, and its Young's modulus at zero porosity was determined to be 444GPa from the true density and bulk density dependence. These values suggest that W2C has elastic deformation behavior similar to that of W. © 2008 The Japan Institute of Metals.