Crystal Structure, Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of (W_1–xAl_x)C with Increased Aluminum Content

Novel solid solutions of (W1–xAlx)C (x=0.0~0.86) have been synthesized by mechanical alloying. The (W1–xAlx)C samples have been identified as the hexagonal WC-type structure even when the aluminum content achieves remarkable 86%. The XRD peaks moved slightly to the lower d spacings as the aluminum content increases. The bulk submicroscale materials have superior mechanical properties compared with WC, the hardness, electronic conductivity are much higher than WC-Co system, and the density of the novel cemented carbides are lower than WC-Co, when the aluminum content get 86%, the density of (W0.14Al0.86)C is only 4.967 g cm–3. The relationship of the superior mechanical properties and the microstructure was also discussed.