In Situ Nanocrystallization-Induced Hardening of Amorphous Alloy Matrix Composites Consolidated by Spark Plasma Sintering

In situ nanocrystallization of amorphous alloys has recently emerged as a suitable technique for forming nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties. In this paper, we report on the spark plasma sintering (SPS) of Fe-based amorphous alloys with in situ-formed nanocrystals of (Fe,Cr)23(C,B)6. The SPS was performed with a range of sintering temperatures (570–800°C) in and above the supercooled liquid region of the alloy. Significant enhancement in relative density was observed with increasing sintering temperature due to particle deformation and improved interparticle contacts. The formation of nanocrystalline particles and enhanced densification resulted in an increase in the hardness of the nanocomposites from about 1150–1375 VHN.