Generation and characterisation of nano tungsten carbide particle by wire explosion process

The nano tungsten carbide particles were produced by wire explosion process (WEP) in different carburizing mediums. Certain physic-chemical diagnostic studies (including Wide angle X-ray diffraction studies, Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy, UV analysis) were carried out to understand the characteristics of nano tungsten carbide powder produced by wire explosion process. TEM analysis indicates that tungsten carbide particle are spherical in shape and the size distribution follows log-normal distribution. The size of the particles could be controlled by varying the operating pressure and by varying the deposited energy. The high speed photograph obtained during the explosion process indicates that the activity of nano particle formation is larger in methane-paraffin ambience, while compared to the process of nano particle formation in pure methane ambience.