Transition of W2C to WC during carburization of tungsten metal powder

Abstract The properties of cemented carbides are heavily influenced by the tungsten carbide (WC) powders used in its production. Overall particle size of the WC is most influential, however, in the medium- and coarse-grained tungsten carbide particle range the internal crystallographic structure of the polycrystalline WC is important as well. To investigate the crystal formation of WC and it's resulting structure, selected crystal growth experiments were performed. The transition of ditungsten carbide (W 2 C) into tungsten carbide (WC) during carburization of tungsten powder was studied. The experimental strategy was to obtain W 2 C along with WC within the growing carbide particles. Electron microscopy methods were utilized to study the growth mechanism during conversion of W 2 C into WC, and to detect the existence of preferred crystallographic orientations during the transition process.