Oscillatory pressure sintering of binderless tungsten carbide

Abstract Tungsten carbide ceramics were fabricated by a novel oscillatory pressure sintering process and the influence of sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of tungsten carbide ceramics was investigated. It was found that tungsten carbide would decarbonize to form W2C under high temperature environment. As the sintering temperature increased, the density and hardness of tungsten carbide ceramics increased apparently, and the growth of tungsten carbide grains became more obvious. The samples fabricated by oscillatory pressure sintering exhibited superior mechanical properties in comparison with some published data obtained by other pressure-assisted sintering methods. The optimum sintering temperature for tungsten carbide ceramics under oscillatory pressure was considered to be 1900 °C. Flexural strength, hardness and fracture toughness of the corresponding sample prepared at this temperature were found to be 1014 MPa, 26.98 GPa and 5.91 MPa·m1/2, respectively.