Powder canning: a novel route for synthesizing nanostructured pure vanadium by field assisted sintering technique

Vanadium and its alloys are considered as promising candidate materials among fusion community, for structural applications. In this study, we have developed nanostructured pure vanadium by mechanical alloying and field assisted sintering (FAST). To protect the vanadium powders from interstitial contamination during sintering, powders were canned with nickel foils. Effect of powder canning on the structural characteristics of bulk vanadium samples are discussed briefly using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Vanadium powders canned with nickel foils reveal enhanced densification rate and relative density than the powders canned with graphite foils. Vanadium powders canned with nickel foils reveal relatively poor sintering kinetics during initial stages of sintering, but surpasses the sintering kinetics offered by powders canned with graphite foils during intermediate and final stages of sintering. Effect of powder canning on the activation complex and current consumption for sintering are also discussed. (author)