Simultaneously synthesis and sintering of a nanostructured Ti-Al2O3 composite by pulsed current activated heating

Nanopowders of TiO and Al were fabricated using high energy ball milling. Dense nanostuctured 3Ti-Al2O3 composite was simultaneously synthesized and sintered by pulsed current activated heating within 2 min in one step from mechanically activated powders of 3TiO and 2Al. 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 3Ti-Al2O3 with relative density of up to 99.9% was produced under simultaneous application of a 80 MPa pressure and the pulsed current. The average hardness and fracture toughness values of the composite were 1439 kg/mm(2) and 7MPa.m(1/2), respectively.