Acrylamide route for the co-synthesis of tungsten carbide–cobalt nanopowders with additives

In this work, cemented tungsten carbide nano-particles were prepared by a chemical method called acrylamide gel. In this process, first, a xerogel containing tungsten and cobalt oxide particles was synthesized. Then, it was carburized by a hydrogen reduction heating process. Acrylamide and N, N-methylene-bis-acrylamide monomers were used as an in-situ carbon. Ammonium meta tungstate (NH4)6H2W12O40·xH2O, and cobalt nitrate Co(NO3)2·6H2O salts were used as the precursor. Both reduction and carburization reactions were carried out simultaneously and the formation of the intermediate phases of W2C, Co3W3C, and Co6W6C led to decrease in the activation barrier. Transactions of reduction and carburization processes were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis at various temperatures. Accordingly, tungsten carbide phase formation was completed at 1100 °C. The formation of W–C and V–C bonds was verified by Raman spectroscopy. SEM images showed the average nano particle size of 50 nm.