Effect of C and milling parameters on the synthesis of WC powders by mechanical alloying

In the current study, the amount of carbon and the effects of milling parameters in production of tungsten-carbide (WC) powder were evaluated. Mechanical alloying (MA) of elemental W and C powders at different carbon-rich and carbon-deficient compositions was studied. XRD results showed that the higher the carbon content the longer the milling period for the formation of WC powder. We also report on the effect of milling parameters on the phase formation. In stoichiometric composition, WC was synthesized faster than in compositions with higher carbon amount. Furthermore, W₂C phase was observed in compositions with higher carbon content milled at low speed and ball-to-powder ratio (BPR), as well as in carbon-deficient composition milled for shorter period. The ab initio calculations were performed in attempt to explain the destabilization of W₂C on further milling.