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Tungsten carbide nanopowder by plasma-assisted chemical vapor synthesis from WCl6–CH4–H2 mixtures

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Abstract

Nanosized tungsten carbide powder was prepared by a thermal plasma process using tungsten hexachloride (WCl6) as the precursor. The reduction and carburization of the vaporized precursor by methane–hydrogen mixtures produced nanosized WC1−x powder, which sometimes contained WC and/or W2C phase. The effects of the molar ratio of reactant gases, plasma torch power, the flow rate of plasma gas, and the addition of secondary plasma gas (H2) on the product composition and grain size were investigated. The tungsten carbide powder produced by the plasma process showed particle sizes less than 20 nm. The produced powder was heated in hydrogen to fully carburize the WC1−x, and W2C phases to the WC phase as well as to remove excess carbon in the product. Finally, WC powder with particle size less than 100 nm was obtained.

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Acknowledgements

This material is based upon the work supported by the US Department of Energy under Award No. DE-FC36-04GO14041 with cost sharing by Kennametal and Smith International and technical collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory. The authors wish to thank Prof. Patrick R. Taylor of Colorado School of Mines for his help with the selection, design, and initial operation of the plasma reactor system. Thanks also go to Mr. Robert W. Byrnes of the University of Utah for his competent work with the design and repair of the experimental facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Taegong Ryu, H. Y. Sohn, Kyu Sup Hwang & Zhigang Z. Fang

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  1. Taegong Ryu
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  2. H. Y. Sohn
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  3. Kyu Sup Hwang
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  4. Zhigang Z. Fang
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Correspondence to H. Y. Sohn.

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Ryu, T., Sohn, H.Y., Hwang, K.S. et al. Tungsten carbide nanopowder by plasma-assisted chemical vapor synthesis from WCl6–CH4–H2 mixtures. J Mater Sci 43, 5185–5192 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-008-2741-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-008-2741-8

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