The　spark　plasma　sintering　(SPS)　and　hot　isostatic　pressing　(sinter-HIP)　were　taken　as　the　representative　methods　of　rapid　sintering　and　liquid-state　sintering　technologies,　respectively,　to　fabricate　the　WC-Co　cemented　carbides.　The　microstructures　and　properties　of　the　bulk　materials　prepared　by　the　two　techniques　were　characterized　and　compared　systematically.　It　was　demonstrated　that　the　big　difference　in　mechanical　properties　of　the　cemented　carbides　prepared　by　SPS　and　sinter-HIP　depends　on　the　configuration　of　WC　and　Co　phases　and　the　WC/Co　orientation　relationship,　which　result　from　the　intrinsic　features　of　the　sintering　technologies.　The　mechanisms　for　the　excellent　properties　obtained　in　the　cemented　carbides　prepared　by　sinter-HIP　were　proposed,　based　on　which　the　favorable　microstructures　and　optimized　processing　methods　concerning　liquid-state　sintering　may　be　developed.　(c)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.