SPARK PLASMA SINTERING OF BALL MILLED AND ATOMIZED POWDER BASED ON Fe-Al

High-quality compacts were prepared using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method from powders of similar composition Fe-Al-Zr-B. The properties of the sintered compacts are strongly dependent on the morphology and properties of the feedstock powder. The first powder was obtained by ball milling of the as cast alloy and the second was prepared by atomization under argon atmosphere. The morphology and structure of the two powders are compared and mechanical properties and microstructure of compacts prepared under the same conditions of the SPS procedure are discussed. The milled powder has an irregular morphology and shape of the polycrystalline particles, which have a completely disordered BCC structure with considerable internal stresses, high concentration of structural defects and the presence of aluminum oxide. The atomized powder particles are nearly spherical, polycrystalline with ordered B2 structure, with no significant signs of internal stresses and oxidation. Microhardness of particles of both powders was measured and compared with the microhardness of compact materials, the results of compression tests of compacts at room temperature were compared and discussed.