Ultrarapid materials processing: Synthesis of tungsten carbide on subminute timescales

The synthesis of tungsten carbide on subminute timescales using microwave method was investigated. It was observed that the method was well-suited to carbide processing, with carbon acting as both starting material and microwave susceptor. It was demonstrated that single-phase cemented carbide (WC) can be synthesized using electric field patterns supported in TE_10n single-mode cavity. The synthesis of WC was performed from the elemental powders in two reactors. It was observed that single-mode carbide was obtained in faster reaction times, with a systematic decrease in reaction time, with increasing applied forward power level. There was insignificant change in morphology and grain size of the sample in terms of reactors used and power level. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests revealed that the carbide existed as blocklike irregular crystallites with smaller grain size.