Electroconductive Alumina–TiC–Ni nanocomposites obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering

In the present work, the processing and characterization of electroconductive Alumina–TiC–Ni nanocomposites obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) are described. These nanocomposites are singular due to the excellent mechanical properties they present (particular regarding Vickers hardness, 25.6 ± 0.7 GPa), as well as their extremely good wear behaviour, studied under “ball-on-disk” dry sliding conditions. The wear rate obtained was 25 times (almost 1.5 orders of magnitude) smaller than the value obtained for a monolithic alumina sintered under the same conditions. Flexural strength had been improved up to 75% with respect to the monolithic alumina processed under the same conditions. As these nanocomposites can be machined by electroerosion (EDM), they can adopt any shape for devices requiring a good mechanical performance and low wear rates.