Fabrication, microstructure and mechanical properties of novel bulk binderless (Ti0.8Zr0.2)C carbides prepared by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering

Nanocrystalline (Ti0.8Zr0.2)C powder consisting in grains of about 200 nm in diameter obtained by mechanical alloying was sintered by a spark plasma sintering (SPS) process without the addition of any binder phase. The microstructure, Vickers micro hardness and density in relation to the sintering time and temperature are carefully described. The most suitable sintering condition under pressure of 50 MPa is 1650 °C for 5 min. In this sintering condition, the hardness can reach 2760 Hv and the relative density can reach 98%.