Plasma Jet Synthesis of Cubic Tungsten Carbide of Variable Stoichiometry

— This paper reports plasma jet synthesis of nanocrystalline cubic tungsten carbide. Using a coaxial magnetoplasma accelerator with graphite electrodes, we have implemented an experimental process that allows one to obtain up to 95% crystalline WC 1 – x . We have demonstrated the feasibility of tuning the parameter 1 – x (stoichiometric ratio) in this compound by varying the energetics of the process and the composition of the starting mixture. Varying the released energy from 8 to 23 kJ and the ν(C)/ν(W) atomic ratio of the starting reagents from 0.6 to 2.5 allows the composition of cubic tungsten carbide to be tuned in the range WC 0.64 to WC 0.78 .