US Patent 7981394 Method for treating tungsten carbide particles

A method for the treatment of tungsten carbide is provided. The starting material contains tungsten carbide particles of a W—C system represented on a phase diagram showing a monophasic domain of a γ phase having a face-centered cubic structure, upwardly delimited by a liquidus line. The particles are subjected to a homogenization treatment in the monophasic domain, and may be subsequently melted to be spheroidized. They are then quenched to freeze at ambient temperature the monophased structure. Optionally, at least one alloying element may be added to the starting material to enlarge the monophasic domain, thereby increasing the hardenability of the monophased particles.