Morphology and carbon content of WC-6%Co nanosized composite powders prepared using glucose as carbon source

Pure WC-6%Co nanosized composite powders were synthesized via a low-temperature method. The effects of carbon source on microstructure characteristic of composite powders were investigated, and the effects of heat-treatment parameter on carbon content of composite powders were also discussed. The results of SEM and XRD revealed that the carbon decomposing from glucose was more active than carbon black. Therefore, WC-Co nanosized composite powders could be synthesized at 900 °C for 1 h under a hydrogen atmosphere. The individual WC grains were bonded together into a long strip under the action of cobalt. The results of carbon analysis revealed that the total carbon content decreased with the increase of the temperature in the range of 800–1000 °C. Moreover, the total carbon content and the compounded carbon increased with the increase of the flow rate of H₂ in the range of 1.1–1.9 m³/h.