Low‐temperature synthesis of tungsten diboride powders via a simple molten salt route

Abstract WB 2 powders were successfully prepared at 1000°C using NaCl–KCl salts as molten salts. Compared to the conventional solid‐state reaction, the introduction of NaCl–KCl salts decreased the synthesis temperature of WB 2 phase, which was related to the faster diffusion rate of particles in the liquid state than in the solid‐state. The effect of reaction temperature, time, and the amount of molten salts on the synthesis of WB 2 were studied in detail. The template formation mechanism was considered to have played an essential part in the synthesis process. Transmission electron microscope analysis showed that the as‐synthesized WB 2 powders exhibited a hexagonal crystal structure. Furthermore, the oxidation protective performance of as‐synthesized WB 2 powders was investigated by TG‐DSC measurement.