Synthesis and characterization of (W0.8Al0.2)C0.8 deduction solid solution

A new solid solution of Al in tungsten carbide (WC) with carbon vacancies, which can be expressed by the chemical formula (W0.8Al0.2)C0.8, has been synthesized by a mechanical alloying and high-pressure (MAAHP) technique. W0.8Al0.2 alloy and proper amount of carbon are firstly ball milled for about 15 h, and then the ball milled mixture is proceeded with the reaction sintering (RA) under the condition of high pressure (4.5 GPa) and high temperature (1873 K) to form the final deduction solid solution (W0.8Al0.2)C0.8. (W0.8Al0.2)C0.8 has been identified to crystallize in the hexagonal space group P-6m2 (No. 187) and belongs to the WC structure type. The carbon vacancy concentration has reached a value of 20%. Environment scanning electron microscope (ESEM)–energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) has been used to investigate the morphology and the quantitative material composition of the sintered sample. The Vickers micro hardness of the sample has been tested to be 2636 kg mm−2 that is much harder than WC, while the density of sintered body is about 12.94 g cm−3, which is lighter than WC.