A　novel　fabrication　method　combining　in　situ　reactions　and　reactive　sintering　to　prepare　WC-Co　cemented　carbides　with　highly　oriented　WC　grains　and　specific　mechanical　properties　was　developed.　Low　synthesis　temperature　and　short　holding　time　were　used　to　synthesize　WC-Co　based　composite　powder　through　in　situ　reduction　and　carbonization　reactions,　and　the　subsequent　consolidation　was　performed　in　the　spark　plasma　sintering　system.　The　microstructure　of　the　resultant　cemented　carbide　bulk　material　has　obviously　higher　fraction　of　the　WC　basal　planes　on　the　cross-section　which　is　perpendicular　to　the　pressing　direction　of　the　sintering　powder,　the　area　percentage　reaches　5　times　of　that　on　the　cross-section　parallel　to　the　pressure　direction.　Correspondingly,　the　hardness,　elastic　modulus　and　wear　resistance　measured　on　the　cross-section　perpendicular　to　the　pressing　direction　are　simultaneously　increased　greatly　with　highly　oriented　WC　grains　in　the　microstructure.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.