Parameters investigation during simultaneous synthesis and densification WC-Ni composites by field-activated combustion

The field-activated, and pressure-assisted combustion synthesis (FAPACS) process, which combines the simultaneous synthesis and densification of materials, was utilized to produce WC-Ni composites from powdered reactants, mixtures of tungsten, carbon and nickel. These reactants were subjected to high DC currents and uniaxial pressures. Under these conditions, a reaction is initiated by field activation and completed within a short period of time. Several experimental parameters, such as pulse current, power-controlled mode, temperature-increasing rate, maximum temperature and pressure during FAPACS on the relative densities of products were studied. Finally, the material with nearly complete density was fabricated. The percentage of the total shrinkage occurring before and during the synthesis reaction and addition densification was measured. The relative density of the end product and Vickers microhardness measurement (at 50 kg force) on the dense sample is 99.2% and 1424 kg mm(-2), respectively. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.