CONSOLIDATION OF MECHANICALLY ALLOYED NANOCRYSTALLINE FE_(91)NI_8ZR_1 POWDER BY SPARK PLASMA SINTERING

摘要

Consolidation of mechanically alloyed nanocrystalline Fe_(91)Ni_8Zr_1 (at. %) powder by spark plasma sintering (SPS) is examined in this paper. Previously, research has focused on large scale consolidation methods such as hot isostatic pressing (HIP), cold isostatic pressing (CIP), and uniaxial compression. Processing by SPS significantly reduces the temperature and time required to densify powders to near theoretical limits, which helps preserve the nanocrystalline grain size. Thus, maintaining the mechanical and thermodynamic characteristics of the alloy observed in prior consolidation efforts. Processing parameters (temperature, ramp rate, hold time at temperature, particle size, particle morphology, and others) were systematically varied to determine their effect on density and hardness of the bulk material.