Initial stages of sintering of nanostructured WC-7wt.%Co

Abstract We report X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) studies of nanostructured WC-7 wt.% Co powders. Upon annealing up to 1250°C, we see evidence that Co covers the WC particles by a Co film of ∼1 atomic layer thick, which is interpreted as resulting from surface diffusion and/or Co vapor transport. Formation of this Co film is suggested to be an initial step in the sintering process.