Based　on　the　experimental　investigations,　a　model　that　describes　the　distributions　of　the　current　intensity　and　the　temperature　increase　among　the　different　raw　powder　particles,　as　well　as　its　evolution　during　the　spark　plasma　sintering　(SPS)　process,　has　been　developed.　As　calculated　by　the　model,　in　a　WC-Co　combined　(Co-film　coated　WC)　particle,　a　majority　fraction　of　the　WC　particle　is　heated　by　the　thermal　energy　transferred　from　the　Co　film.　The　rapid　melting　and　joint　of　the　Co　films　lead　to　the　fast　formation　of　the　sintering　necks　of　the　combined　particles.　The　temperature　of　the　combined　particles　may　reach　the　eutectic　temperature　of　WC　and　Co　and　the　melting　temperature　of　Co　at　relatively　lower　sintering　temperatures,　thus　the　powder　particles　can　be　densified　rapidly　at　the　temperatures　apparently　lower　than　those　in　the　conventional　sintering　techniques.　The　physical　essence　of　the　neck　formation　and　the　unique　densification　feature　of　the　SPS　process　is　presented　by　combing　theoretical　analysis　and　experimental　studies.　(C)　2008　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.