Properties and Rapid Sintering of a Nanostructured Cr2Zr-1.5ZrO2 Composite by High Frequency Induction Heating

Dense nanostructured Cr2Zr-1.5ZrO(2) composite was sintered by high frequency induction heating within one min from mechanically milled powders. The advantage of this process is that it allows very quick densification to near-theoretical density and prohibition of grain growth in nanostructured materials. Highly dense Cr2Zr-1.5ZrO(2) composite with a relative density of up to 99.6% was produced under application of an 80 MPa pressure with the induced current. The mechanical properties and microstructure of the nanostructured Cr2Zr-1.5ZrO(2) was investigated from the viewpoints of using Vickers hardness measurement, X-ray diffraction analysis and FE-SEM observation.