Fast consolidation and properties of a nanostructured AlCr2-2Al2O3 composite from mechanochemically synthesized powders by pulsed current activated heating

Nanopowders of AlCr2 and Al2O3 were fabricated using high-energy ball milling. Dense nanostructured AlCr2-2Al(2)O(3) composite was sintered by pulsed current activated heating within 2 min, from mechanically synthesized 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 AlCr2-2Al(2)O(3) composite with a relative density of up to 97% was produced under application of an 80 MPa pressure with the pulsed current. The fracture toughness of the AlCr2-2Al(2)O(3) composite of this study is similar to that of a previous study and its hardness is higher due to the grain refinement. The fracture toughness of the AlCr2-2Al(2)O(3) composite is higher than that of pure Al2O3. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.