Abstract Plate-like tungsten carbide powders have been prepared from oxides by molten salt synthesis at temperatures higher than 1200 °C for 2 h. The phase evolution of the reaction products and the… Click to show full abstract
Abstract Plate-like tungsten carbide powders have been prepared from oxides by molten salt synthesis at temperatures higher than 1200 °C for 2 h. The phase evolution of the reaction products and the growth mechanism of WC platelets are investigated. It was found that the phase evolution, with the presence of sodium chloride as a solvent, was quite different from the traditional carbothermal reduction process. Sodium tungsten bronzes, MχWO3, were generated as intermediate phases with a variable value of χ. The formation of platelets with a high aspect ratio has been discussed based on the effect of molten salt. Besides, the size distribution of the as-prepared powder showed a bimodal pattern, which is explained with the 2-Dimension nucleation of angular grains.
               
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