Abstract: The activation of self-propagating combustion reactions in the W-C system was achieved by using an electric field. Self-propagating combustion in elemental
reactants with the composition corresponding to WC can be activated only when the imposed field is above the threshold value of 1V·cm^-1. The
nature of the combustion products depends on the field strength. The strength of diffraction peak of WC in XRD pattern increases with the increase of field
strength. The product is WC and W₂C. The effects of tungsten particle sizes and the relative densities of the reactant compacts on the synthesis of tungsten carbide were also
investigated. The results show that the combustion temperature and combustion wave propagation velocity increase with the decrease of the size of tungsten
particles. At the optimum relative density, the combustion temperature and wave velocity attain the maximum value.

Key words: combustion synthesis, tungsten carbide, field activation