Tungsten Carbide Nanoparticles Research Articles

Influence of heat treatment on metallurgical and mechanical properties of aluminium Al6061 hybrid metal matrix composites

Abstract The current investigation explores the metallurgical and mechanical properties of hybrid metal matrix composites (HMMC) with aluminum 6061 as the base material, reinforced with ceramic of tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles, graphite (as a solid lubricant) and redmud (RM). Four different composites with tungsten carbide nanoparticles (1.5 wt.%) and graphite (2 wt.%) with a varying proportions of redmud (0, 1, 3 and 5 wt.%) are fabricated by stir casting. Microscopic analysis reveals grain boundary with segregations, some of which dissolve to form discontinuous grain boundaries after heat treatment. FESEM examination shows the formation of intermetallic, some of which dissolve on heat treatment to form precipitate that are distributed evenly along the grain boundary and also inside grains. EDX mapping further validated the uniform distribution of reinforcements without any agglomeration. The addition of reinforcements and heat treatment (T6) resulted in substantial improvements in hardness, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and compressive strength compared to unreinforced Al6061 and untreated HMMC, respectively. Fractographic analysis of tensile tested samples reveals the presence of dimples, tearing edges and small voids, indicating ductile fracture.

Structural study of carbon deficient tungsten carbide nanoparticles prepared by different carbon sources

Structural study of carbon deficient tungsten carbide nanoparticles prepared by different carbon sources

WC nanoparticles and NiFe alloy co-encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanocage for exceptional OER and ORR bifunctional electrocatalysis

Developing earth-abundant electrocatalysts with optimized intrinsic active sites is crucial for enhancing bifunctional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance. In this study, we fabricated a hollow structured carbon framework utilizing NiFe Prussian Blue analogs (PBAs) as templates, while polypyrrole (PPy) and phosphotungstic acid (PW12). Pyrrole monomer underwent polymerization on the nanocubic PBA surface in the presence of PW12 (PBA@PPy-PW12). Subsequent carbothermal reduction created an N-doped carbon shell with embedded NiFe alloy and tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles. The polymeric PPy-PW12 nature can not only prevent the aggregation of PBA and WC structures but also enhance electrical conductivity by connecting neighboring nanospheres. Moreover, the introduction of WC can significantly enhance the bifunctional electrocatalytic activity of the carbon-based catalyst, which is attributed to synergism between the WC and NiFe materials within the NC layer. Consequently, NiFe/W0.3C@NC exhibited outstanding OER (overpotential = 290 mV for 10 mA/cm2; Tafel slope = 57 mV/dec) and ORR (half wave potential = 0.81 V; Tafel slope = 61 mV/dec) performances. This work presents a promising avenue for developing high-performance electrocatalysts for energy conversion systems that showcase remarkable efficiency, stability, and potential practicability.

The effect of tungsten carbide nanoparticles on the morphological, mechanical and tribological properties of WC/epoxy and WC/TBCP/epoxy nanocomposite

The paper reported on the effect of a polyethylene glycol-block-polypropylene glycol-block-polyethylene glycol (EO-PPO-EO) triblock copolymer (TBCP) on phase separation, mechanical properties of epoxy based on bisphenol F-(epichlorohydrin) and hardener (1-methylethyl-1,1'-biphenyl) (izoforon diamine) system and effect of a tungsten carbide (WC) reinforced two of WC/epoxy resin and WC /triblock (TBCP)/epoxy nanocomposites.In the work, TBCP content was used at 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% wt. for epoxy matrix. The optimal TBCP concentration was discovered to be 3% wt. in order to produce a good balance of mechanical characteristics. The comparative study of morphology and mechanical properties of two systems, tungsten carbide (WC) reinforced epoxy resin and WC /triblock (TBCP) /epoxy nanocomposites, has been examined. WC was added to two systems in three different weight proportions (1%, 2% and 3%). Specimens were fabricated by hand layup technique by pouring epoxy resin and reinforcement mixture into silicon moulds.The addition of nanoparticles did not affect the miscibility of the copolymer on the resin. Tensile, impact and wear tests were performed to ASTM standards. From the results, it was observed that WC reinforcement in epoxy resin results in high tensile strength and modulus and also increases impact strength and wear resistance compared to neat epoxy.Several spherical formations concerning phase separation and the creation of immiscible TBCP structures in the epoxy matrix are seen.The tests proved that epoxy nanocomposite with TBCP and WC as filler demonstrated that the nanoparticles utilised with block copolymers do not affect the distribution of the copolymer in the matrix, suggesting enhancing the nanoparticle's adherence to the matrix were characterised by the best tribological properties and mechanical properties, which was unchanged or better than the epoxy resin used as a matrix.

Formation of composites with an aluminum matrix reinforced with tungsten carbide nanoparticles

Relevance. The fact that composites with a metal matrix and structural products based on them are in great demand in various industries, including the automotive industry, aerospace industry, and shipbuilding. Aluminum matrix composites are the most popular since they combine the excellent ductility, low density, good corrosion resistance of aluminum and the high strength, hardness and wear resistance of a ceramic reinforcing component. Aim. To obtain bulk Al-WC metal matrix composites with different contents of the reinforcing phase and with increased physical and mechanical characteristics using spark plasma sintering. Objects. Sintered bulk products made of pure aluminum and obtained at 400, 450, 500, 550, 600°C and bulk metal matrix composites Al-1%WC, Al-5%WC, Al-10%WC, Al-15%WC obtained at 600°C. Methods. Spark plasma sintering; X-ray diffractometry (XRD phase analysis); scanning electron microscopy; indentation (microhardness measurement). Results. The authors have obtained bulk composite metal matrix products with an aluminum matrix and tungsten carbide as a reinforcing component. Compacting mixtures of nanosized initial powders of aluminum and tungsten carbide using spark plasma sintering made it possible to obtain products with a WC content of 1 to 15 wt %. Taking into account the results of a preliminary series of experiments, when pure aluminum samples were sintered to determine the optimal sintering temperature, bulk composite materials were obtained. A distinctive feature of the obtained samples is their high degree of compaction, which is due to the simultaneous application of a heating current and external pressure, coupled with the relative preservation of the fine-grained structure of the material due to the short process time. The analysis of various sintering modes revealed the need to carry out sintering of composites at 600°C. The research has shown that, although adding a reinforcing phase to a metal matrix significantly reduces the degree of compaction of the material from 97.45% in the absence of an additive to 62.32% with the addition of 15%WC, an increase in the microhardness of products is observed when the concentration of the reinforcing component increases from 3.95 to 5.75 HV. This proves the possibility of reinforcing a metal material using ceramic WC particles. The results can be used in a variety of structural applications, including automotive and aerospace.

Experimental Investigations in the Processing of AISI H11 Powder Blends Enriched with Tungsten Carbide Nanoparticles for the Additive Manufacturing of Tailored Hot Working Tools in the Directed Energy Deposition (DED-LB/M)—Impact of Tungsten Carbide Nanoparticles on Microstructural and Mechanical Characteristics

In this study, the DED-LB/M process of AISI H11 tool steel powder blends modified by adding WC nanoparticles (WC-np) in concentrations of 1, 2.5 and 5 wt.-% was the object of scientific investigations. For this, 30-layer cuboid specimens were manufactured. The overall scientific aim was to examine how the WC-np interact with the steel melt and in the end, influence the processability, microstructure and mechanical properties of produced specimens. The examinations were carried out on both as-built and thermally post-processed specimens. An advanced microstructural analysis (SEM, EDS, EBSD and XRD) revealed that due to the high solubility of WC-np in the molten steel, most of the WC-np appear to have dissolved during the ongoing laser process. Furthermore, the WC-np favor a stronger distortion and finer grain size of martensite in the manufactured specimens. An increase in hardness from about 650 HV1 for the H11 specimen to 780 HV1 for the one manufactured using the powder blend containing 5 wt.-% of WC-np was observed in as-built conditions. In the same way, the compression yield strength enhanced from 1839 MPA to 2188 MPA. The hardness and strength increasing effect of WC-np remained unchanged even after heat treatments similar to those used in industry.

The Comparative Third‐Order Nonlinearities of Titanium Carbide and Tungsten Carbide in the Visible Regain

AbstractThis study investigates the structure and properties of Titanium carbide (TiC) and Tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles. The X‐ray diffraction patterns confirm the presence of a hexagonal structure in WC nanoparticles and cubic structure in TiC nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals the particle sizes to be within the range of 30–50 nm. The bandgap of TiC and WC nanoparticles are 3.5 and 3.6 eV, respectively based on diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) along with Kubelka–Munk. Furthermore, the optical phonons and dielectric function of WC and TiC nanoparticles are investigated using the reflectance spectra along with the Kramers–Kronig (KK) method. Furthermore, the Z‐scan technique, employing a Nd:YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 532 nm, is utilized to assess the nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics of WC and TiC nanoparticles. The open aperture Z‐scan measurements of WC nanoparticles indicate reverse saturable absorption (RSA) behavior and a positive nonlinear refraction (NLR) coefficient. On the other hand, TiC nanoparticles show RSA behavior with a negative NLR effect. The order of NLR, nonlinear absorption coefficient, and the susceptibility of TiC and WC are 10−8 cm2 W−1, 10−4 cm W−1, and 10−6 esu, respectively.

The Cytotoxicity of Tungsten Ions Derived from Nanoparticles Correlates with Pulmonary Toxicity.

Tungsten carbide nanoparticles (nano-WC) are prevalent in composite materials, and are attributed to their physical and chemical properties. Due to their small size, nano-WC particles can readily infiltrate biological organisms via the respiratory tract, thereby posing potential health hazards. Despite this, the studies addressing the cytotoxicity of nano-WC remain notably limited. To this purpose, the BEAS-2B and U937 cells were cultured in the presence of nano-WC. The significant cytotoxicity of nano-WC suspension was evaluated using a cellular LDH assay. To investigate the cytotoxic impact of tungsten ions (W6+) on cells, the ion chelator (EDTA-2Na) was used to adsorb W6+ from nano-WC suspension. Subsequent to this treatment, the modified nano-WC suspension was subjected to flow cytometry analysis to evaluate the rates of cellular apoptosis. According to the results, a decrease in W6+ could mitigate the cellular damage and enhance cell viability, which indicated that W6+ indeed exerted a significant cytotoxic influence on the cells. Overall, the present study provides valuable insight into the toxicological mechanisms underlying the exposure of lung cells to nano-WC, thereby reducing the environmental toxicant risk to human health.

Effect of WC nanoparticles addition on optical properties of CMC for photo-detectors devices

In this paper, nanostructures from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) /tungsten carbide nanoparticles (WC NPs) were fabricated. The WC NPs was added to polymer by various weight ratios are (1.5, 3 and 4.5) wt. %. "The optical characteristics" of CMC/WC nanostructures were tested. The optical results exhibited the absorbance of CMC is raised with rising of the content of WCNPs. The gap of energy of CMC polymer reduces with a rise of the content of WCNPs. The optical constants such as "coefficient of absorption, coefficient of extinction, index of refractive", dielectric "constants for real and imaginary part"and conductivity of CMC varied with a rise of the weight ratios of WC NPs.

Одностадийный синтез смеси наночастиц WC-=SUB=-1-x-=/SUB=- и гибридного наноматериала на основе многостенных углеродных нанотрубок с нанопокрытиями WC-=SUB=-1-x-=/SUB=-

By the method of chemical vapor deposition of tungsten hexacarbonyl at atmospheric pressure in an argon flow has been used to obtain promising fillers for aluminum matrix composite materials in the form of a mixture of nanoparticles of non-stoichiometric cubic tungsten carbide (WC1-x) and hybrid nanomaterials based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with nonstoichiometric cubic tungsten carbide. The influence of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) parameters on the morphology of samples was studied and the optimal synthesis conditions were selected. The structure and composition of the synthesized materials were studied by electron microscopy and X-ray phase analysis

Performance of diamond circular saws with innovative Fe-based binders

The influence of binder composition on the performance of diamond circular saws in cutting reinforced concrete was investigated. Two different approaches were used to improve Fe-based binder to provide high cutting rate and stable wear rate of the tool. The first approach was built upon doping the binder with titanium, a strong carbide-forming component, which allowed producing titanium carbide layer at the diamond–binder interface, thus improving adhesion. The second approach involved complex modification of the binder with nanoparticles of tungsten carbide, hexagonal boron nitride and carbon nanotubes. These dopants improve the mechanical properties of the binders and provide formation of self-assembling protective WC coatings on the diamond surface. To confirm the benefits of binder modification, we tested diamond circular saws equipped with designed binders in cutting reinforced concrete. The tools with basic binder had the lowest cutting speed, higher wear rate and dulling during the test. The modification by addition of titanium allows this problem to be partially solved due to better diamond fixation in the working layer. The complex modification of the binder with nanoparticles demonstrated the best results as it changed its wear mechanism as well as enhanced its mechanical properties. The simultaneous strengthening with WC particles and carbon nanotubes and provoking of wear of binder microvolumes by boron nitride made it possible to maintain high cutting speed and stabilize the tool wear during machining. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 17-79-20384.

A study on single step-low temperature synthesized tungsten carbides (WC/W2C) via fast cooling for electrochemical methanol/ethanol oxidation

Nano particles of tungsten carbide with carbon deficiency (WC/W2C) have been prepared through solvothermal route by adopting fast cooling process after optimizing the synthesis conditions. The as prepared nano particles are characterized by using the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and tested for electrochemical methanol/ethanol oxidation in acidic media. In addition, the study on the catalytic activity of W2C enriched material with different concentration of both alcohols, were done to understand the kinetics of methanol/ethanol oxidation reactions. The electrochemical study for alcohol oxidation on Pt-modified electrocatalyst gives better exchange current density with the appearance of anodic peak in the range 0.50–0.65 V vs SCE as well as attributes better anti-poisoning ability for methanol oxidation rather than ethanol oxidation.

Ultrafast fiber lasers at 1560 nm and 1932 nm modulated by WC nanoparticles and d-shaped fibers

Tungsten carbide nanoparticles (WCNs), as a kind of transition metal carbides, have exhibited extraordinary optoelectronic properties and aroused enormous attention. However, few reports have been focused on the nonlinear properties and relevant devices. In this study, we first demonstrated a novel saturable absorber (SA) prepared by the deposition of WCNs onto a d-shaped fiber (DF). The WCNs with an average size of 80 nm were prepared through a hydrothermal method. Combined with the DF, the WCNs-DF SA exhibited high robustness and broadband saturable absorption response. As the same SA was inserted into Er3+ or Tm3+-doped laser cavities, ultrafast pulses were generated with central wavelengths of 1560 nm and 1932 nm. Our experimental results verified that the integrated WCNs-DF device possessed great potential as a nonlinear optical medium for high-performance ultrafast optical applications.

Synthesis of Tungsten carbide nanoparticles in different dielectric through µ-EDM

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the morphology, shape, and size of NPs which are crucial steps in nanotechnology. The production of tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles and tool wear rate under different voltage and duty factors have been studied in two different dielectrics, i.e., EDM oil and kerosene. It has been seen that the generation of NPs and tool wear rate increases with an increase in voltage at a constant duty factor. The maximum amount of generated NPs was obtained at a duty factor of 20%, and voltage 40 V are 0.1013 gm and 0.0447 gm in EDM oil and kerosene, respectively. The higher value of tool wear rate was observed at duty factor 20%, and voltage 40 V are 0.000278 gm/min and 0.000192 gm/min in EDM oil and kerosene, respectively. The production of NPs is more, and the formation of carbide is less with using EDM oil as compared to kerosene. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) image depicts that tungsten carbide nanoparticles are spherical, and carbon is in uneven shapes. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results reveal that the produced nanoparticles contain tungsten (W), Carbon (C), and Oxygen (O) in both dielectrics.

Laser-powder bed fusion in-process dispersion of reinforcing ceramic nanoparticles onto powder beds via colloid nebulisation

Functionally grading material composition in laser-powder bed fusion grants the potential for manufacturing complex components with tailored properties. The challenge in achieving this is that the current laser-powder bed fusion machine technology is designed to process only powdered feedstock materials. This study presents a multi-feedstock material printing methodology for laser-powder bed fusion. Utilising colloid nebulisation, tungsten carbide nanoparticles were successfully deposited onto powder beds of stainless steel 316L during the laser-powder bed fusion process. By this means, a controlled volume of tungsten carbide nanoparticles was uniformly dispersed onto powder beds under the inert processing chamber atmosphere. As a result, specimens printed with this methodology showed an increase in strength. Similarly, the colloid medium played an important role in the resulting microstructures. It led to the formation of consistent and stable meltpools and a strong crystallographic texture. Recommendations are given for the successful dispersion of higher volumes of nanoparticles. Additionally, insights into application prospects for material nebulisation in laser-powder bed fusion are presented and discussed.

Microstructure, hardness, and wear properties of AA6061/WC nanocomposite fabricated by friction stir processing

Friction stir processing (FSP) is a solid-state microstructural modification technique that has recently become an effective tool to refine microstructures and improve the mechanical properties of metals. In the current study, optimization of FSP parameters, including tool rotational speed, transverse feed, number of passes, and tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticle volume fractions on mechanical and wear properties of the fabricated AA6061/WC nanocomposite was studied. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy are used for microstructural observations. The process parameters are optimized using the Taguchi technique for single responses towards microhardness and weight loss and the Desirability approach for both responses. The percentage contribution of process parameters is estimated using analysis of variance. The microstructure observation shows that the proper selection of FSP parameters leads to a homogeneous dispersion of the WC particles throughout the matrix, thereby producing a defect-free AA6061/WC nanocomposite without voids. Also, the severe plastic deformation and heat generation during FSP cause the breaking of coarse particles, WC particles, and porous holes and create an ultrafine grain-sized structure via dynamic recrystallization. The results indicated that the microhardness value of the processed composite was found to be 144 VHN, which is 39.81% higher than that of the base metal. Also, the weight loss of all samples decreased as compared to the base metal. Also, it can be observed that the number of passes is the most significant factor for microhardness, with a 40.1% contribution, and for minimum weight loss, the volume fraction is the most significant factor, with a 56.94% contribution. The optimum process parameter combination was found to be 1800 rpm rotation speed, 120 mm/min of transverse feed, 6% volume fraction, and 3 passes that resulted in obtaining optimum values for micro hardness and weight loss. The surface composite developed in this research is considered a suitable material for applications demanding lightweight and enhanced surface properties, including automotive, aerospace, marine, defense, and transportation industries.

Superior Surface Protection, Mechanical and Hydrophobic Properties of Silanized Tungsten Carbide Nanoparticles Encapsulated Epoxy Nanocomposite Coated Steel Structures in Marine Environment

Superior Surface Protection, Mechanical and Hydrophobic Properties of Silanized Tungsten Carbide Nanoparticles Encapsulated Epoxy Nanocomposite Coated Steel Structures in Marine Environment

Growth of 2D-layered double hydroxide nanorods heterojunction with 2D tungsten carbide nanocomposite: Improving the electrochemical sensing of norfloxacin

The potential impact of antibiotics in water environments affects aquatic organisms, microbial community structure, and resistance genes. In this work, we report the hydrothermal synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles on CO32- anion intercalated three-dimensional (3D) self-assembled nickel–cobalt layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) nanorods, for the electrochemical determination of norfloxacin (NRF). The synergistic impact between the dual active components of the prepared electrode offered increased active surface area, high electrical conductivity, and prompt mass and ion diffusion, resulting in improved electrochemical performance for NRF monitoring. In ideal conditions, WC@NiCo-LDH modified electrode exhibited enhanced electrochemical characteristics, wide linear response (DPV = 0.02–83.4 µM and in i-t = 0.002–346 µM), and lowdetection limit (LOD) (DPV = 0.005 µM and i-t = 0.002 µM). Furthermore, good reproducibility, virtuous operational and cycle stabilities, were obtained. The practical applications in real-world samples with acceptable recovery ranges were verified the interference-free sensing of NRF.

Tungsten Carbide Nanoparticles as Saturable Absorber for Q-Switched Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser

As a member of the MXene family, tungsten carbide (WC), with its unique physical structure and excellent optical properties, possesses enormous development potentials in ultrafast optoelectronics. In this letter, A WC film saturable absorber (SA) is successfully demonstrated to induce passive Q-switching in an erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL). The WC nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Stable Q-switched pulses are generated at 1558 nm with a threshold pump power of 141 mW, after inserting the prepared WC film into the EDFL ring cavity. As the pump power ranges from 141 mW to 193 mW, the repetition rate increases from 32.34 kHz to 35.8 kHz, while the pulse duration decreases from <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$5.5~\mu \text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4.16~\mu \text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> . When the pump power reaches a maximum power of 193 mW, the corresponding maximum pulse energy and output power are 81 nJ and 2.9 mW, respectively. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of utilizing WC as SA to achieve Q-switched pulses. Our research results provide a new reference for the realization of pulsed laser using MXene materials and reveal that WC has immense applications in nonlinear optics and ultrafast laser technology, which greatly broadens the frontier of materials for optoelectronic techniques.

Design of Fe‐Nx/Tungsten Carbide for Efficient Electrocatalyst Oxygen Reduction in Acidic Media

AbstractImproving the activity and stability of Fe/N/C catalyst in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a huge challenge in the commercial application of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In the past decade, there have been significant break‐throughs in the performance of transition metal catalysts, but little progress has been made in their stability. Herein, a zinc‐based zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF‐8) and tungsten carbide engaged strategy was reported to prepare Fe/N/C catalyst. Particularly, physical vapor deposition (PVD) was used to trap tungsten carbide nanoparticles with particle size of less than 3 nm limited into the FeNC catalytic micropores to synthesis composite catalyst (WC@FeNC). Compared with original Fe/N/C cata‐lysts, confined WC nanoparticles in Fe/N/C porous has improved the ORR activity (2.7 mA mg−1 vs. 2.2 mA mg−1 at 0.85 V vs. RHE) as well as stability (decay 18.7 mV vs. 21.6 mV after 10 h charged) in 0.1 M H2SO4. This work puts forward some unique insights for improving the stability of transition metal oxygen reduction catalysts.