X-Ray Phase Analysis of Tungsten-Carbide Nanoparticles Synthesized Using the Vacuum-Arc Technique
Аннотация
–Studies of tungsten-carbide nanoparticles synthesized from tungsten oxide are carried out using different precursors in low-temperature plasma generated using vacuum-arc discharge. The phase content, structural features and size distribution in tungsten-carbide nanoparticles are explored using powder diffractrometry, Raman spectroscopy and the laser-scattering technique. The nanopowder X-ray diagram shows that the main phase of tungsten monocarbide WC is formed together with graphite C, tungsten W, and tungsten oxide WO3 phases. Tungsten semi-carbide W2C and cubic tungsten carbide WC1 — x are not detected which can be associated with the parameters of the electric-arc discharge and with the precursor distribution. Carbon black and glucose are used as reducing agents and carbidizers, respectively, to obtain tungsten-carbide nanopowder. Analysis of the results indicates that the use of glucose in synthesizing tungsten-carbide nanopowder dramatically increases the rate of recovering nanopowder if compared with using only graphite.