Fast consolidation of a nanocrystalline Al2O3 reinforced 3.7Fe(0.54)Cr(0.18)Al(0.26)Si(0.016) composite from mechanical synthesized powder through pulsed current activated heating

Abstract

Nanopowders of Fe0.54Cr0.18Al0.26Si0.016 and Al2O3 were synthesized from Fe2O3, Cr, Si, and Al powders using high-energy ball milling. Ahigh-density nanocrystalline 3.7Fe(0.54)Cr(0.18)Al(0.26)Si(0.016)-Al2O3 composite was consolidated with mechanically synthesized powders of Al2O3 and 3.7Fe(0.54)Cr(0.18)Al(0.26)Si(0.016)-Al2O3 through a pulsed current activated sintering (PCAS) method within 1 min. The hardness of the composite and the average grain sizes of Al2O3 and Fe0.54Cr0.18Al0.26Si0.016 were investigated. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.