Properties and Rapid Consolidation of Nano structured 4Cr-3ZrO₂ Composite by Pulsed Current Activated Sintering

Despite of many attractive properties, the low fracture toughness of ZrO₂ limits their wide application. One of the most obvious tactics to improve the mechanical properties has been to make fabrication of a nano structured material and composite material. Nano-powders of Cr and ZrO₂ were synthesized from Cr₂O₃ and Zr powders using high energy ball milling. Nanocrystalline 4Cr-3ZrO₂ composite was consolidated by pulsed current activated sintering method within 2 minutes from mechanically synthesized powders of ZrO₂ and Cr. The relative density of the composite was 98.5%. The fracture toughness and hardness of 4Cr-3ZrO₂ composite in this study are simultaneously higher than those of monolithic ZrO₂.