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Formation of tungsten carbide nanoparticles by wire explosion process
Author(s) -
Ranjan Prem,
Kurosaki Taisei,
Suematsu Hisayuki,
Jayaganthan Rengaswamy,
Sarathi Ramanujam
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of applied ceramic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.4
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1744-7402
pISSN - 1546-542X
DOI - 10.1111/ijac.13350
Subject(s) - materials science , tungsten carbide , acetylene , carbide , carburizing , tungsten , sublimation (psychology) , nanoparticle , transmission electron microscopy , scanning electron microscope , argon , pyrolytic carbon , chemical engineering , methane , metallurgy , nanotechnology , composite material , pyrolysis , organic chemistry , chemistry , psychology , engineering , psychotherapist
Tungsten carbide nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by wire explosion process (WEP) in gas ambient as carbon source. Formation of tungsten carbide (WC 1− X ) in a single step by WEP using methane and argon‐acetylene mixture as carburizing medium, is detailed. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the phase and morphology of the produced NPs. In WEP, morphology and phase of NPs are controlled using different levels of energy ratio, K (ratio of energy supplied to wire and sublimation energy of wire), type and pressure, P of ambience. High purity WC 1− X NPs was synthesized in methane ambience with a high K (=19) and a high P (270 kPa). A thorough study has been made to understand the impact of type of carburizing medium. Methane‐acetylene mixture gave two phases of carbides. Argon‐acetylene ambience provided complete carburization in specific cases. In general, the formed NPs are spherical in shape. Formation mechanism of tungsten carbide NPs is detailed in the work.