Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured Tungsten Carbide Alloys Strengthened by Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

A novel approach for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes strengthened nanostructured tungsten carbide was investigated, in which nanophase tungsten powders are carburized by C₂H₂ instead of CO and a fraction of decomposed carbons were in situ converted to nanotubes. In this way, the composite powders of nanocrystal WC-Co and carbon nanotubes have been in situ prepared. The composite WC-Co powders were then hot pressed into bulk alloy which shows a exceptionally high microhardness up to 3307 kg/mm². It is proposed that carbon nanotubes with extra high Young’s modulus (1.8 Tpa) play both roles on strengthening the composite matrix and prohibiting growth of WC grains, which results in the great improvement of the mechanical properties of the samples. The average grain size of the prepared WC-Co hard alloys was estimated to be less than 100 nm. The effect of hot press temperature on the mechanical properties of the prepared alloys was also studied in detail.