Fabrication of tungsten carbide-vanadium carbide core-shell structure powders and their application as an inhibitor for the sintering of cemented carbides

An innovative way to synthesize tungsten carbide-vanadium carbide core-shell structure powders, which are predicted to act as inhibitors for cemented carbides, has been explored. The core-shell structures were synthesized by chemically induced precipitation and carbonization reactions. The cemented carbides with a homogeneous microstructure were prepared at 1400 degrees C. The existence of tungsten carbide-vanadium carbide core-shell structure can significantly refine tungsten carbide grains, inhibit the abnormal growth of finer grains in the liquid sintering and improve the mechanical properties of the hard metals. (c) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.