PREPARATION OF TUNGSTEN BORIDE SINTERED COMPACT BY HOT-PRESSING.

WB and W//2B//5 powders containing 10 mol percent excess amorphous boron which was compensated by the addition of tungsten powder to keep the respective stoichiometries were hot-pressed at 20 MPa and 1900 degree C for 30 min. Microhardness of WB and W//2B//5 sintered compacts was 2600 and 2700 kg/mm**2 and transverse strength was 57 and 43 kg/mm**2, respectively. Coefficient of linear thermal expansion of WB and W//2B//5 compacts was 5. 3 multiplied by 10** minus **6 and 4. 7 multiplied by 10** minus **6 deg** minus **1 at room temperature and 7. 3 multiplied by 10** minus **6 and 6. 8 multiplied by 10** minus **6 deg** minus **1 at temperatures above 400 degree C, respectively.