A　novel　rapid　route　for　preparing　WC-Co　cemented　carbides　bulk,　which　integrated　the　synthesis　of　the　composite　powder　by　in　situ　reactions　and　subsequent　consolidation　in　the　spark　plasma　sintering　(SPS)　system,　was　proposed.　The　phase　configurations　both　in　the　synthesized　composite　powder　and　in　the　sintered　bulk　were　analyzed　in　details.　It　was　shown　that　the　obtained　WC-Co　bulk　has　a　homogeneous　and　fine-grained　structure　and　good　combined　mechanical　properties.　As　compared　with　the　conventional　methods,　the　present　preparation　route　has　been　remarkably　simplified.　Particularly,　with　the　greatly　reduced　temperature　and　time　in　the　preparation　procedures,　it　is　effective　to　control　the　grain　coarsening　during　the　processes.　By　taking　into　account　the　characteristics　of　the　SPS　technology,　the　formation　mechanism　of　the　WC-Co　composite　by　in　situ　reduction　and　carbonization　reactions　was　proposed.　(C)　2008　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.