Synthesis of Tungsten Carbide Nanomaterials in Triple DC Thermal Plasma Jet System

The tungsten carbide nanomaterials were synthesized in the triple DC thermal plasma jet system using refractory tungsten, and carbon sources such as multi wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), amorphous carbon and methane. The starting materials were evaporated in the high temperature region of triple plasma jet, then condensed particles were prepared in nanoscale under 100 nm. The effect of carbon sources was investigated on a view of crystal phase structure and morphology. W₂C crystal nanoparticles were mainly synthesized and WC and WC_1−x phase nanoparticles were observed additionally with all carbon sources. From MWCNT starting material, tungsten carbide attached MWCNT composite were produced with spherical tungsten carbide nanoparticles. In case of amorphous carbon, spherical and rod-shaped tungsten carbide was synthesized. Only spherical tungsten carbide nanoparticles were synthesized by methane. In addition, it was revealed that the main crystal structure was changed from W₂C to WC_1−x by increasing W/CH₄ composition ratio.