Evolution of the Microstructure and Phase Composition of the Products Formed in the Reaction between Iridium and W(2)B

In the present study, we perform a systematic examination of the products formed by mixing and heating of tungsten boride and iridium powders at different ratios in a broad temperature range using qualitative and quantitative X-ray analysis and time-of-flight neutron diffraction (TOF-ND), in combination with scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) performed at different accelerating voltages. The well-known and unknown ternary W–Ir–B phases were detected. The Vickers microhardness value for the new ternary W(2)Ir(5)B(2) boride was measured. Based on these findings, the ternary W(2)Ir(5)B(2) boride can be considered hard.