Fabrication of High-density Nanostructured Alumina by the combined processes of Magnetic Pulsed Compaction (MPC) and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS)

摘要

In this study the nanostructured α-Al_2O_3 ceramics has been fabricated by the combined application of magnetic pulsed compaction (MPC) and spark plasma sintering (SPS), and their density and hardness properties were investigated. The α-Al_2O_3 prepared by the combined processes showed an increase of 8.4% in density, approaching a value close to the theoretical density, a enhancement by 210～400 Hv in hardness, compared to those for the ones by the MPC or static compaction method followed by a sintering treatment. Its grain size was almost equivalent to or slightly higher than the size of the starting Al_2O_3 powder, suggesting that the grain growth was remarkably reduced during the MPC and SPS processes.