Abstract
In this study, two kinds of Cr and Si powders were mixed ingredients in set proportions (Cr/Si = 50∶50 in weight percentage), and different vacuum sintering temperatures were used to achieve the optimal densification process. The specimens used in this investigation have common microstructures of hardness, XRD, transverse rupture strength and resistivity of the Cr50–Si50 targets. The microstructure shows that the porosity tends to decrease as sintering temperature increases. Conversely, hardness and transverse rupture strength increase as sintering temperature increases. These results agree with the variation in porosity. Additionally, the resistivity tends to decrease with increasing sintering temperature. It should be correlated with the microstructure of Cr50–Si50 targets, increasing the density of CrSi2 could significantly decrease the resistance. Meanwhile, the resistivity decreases and conductivity increases as the neighbours are closer together, which also results from the decreasing porosity.
This research was supported by the Materials and Electro-Optics Research Division of Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology Taiwan under grant no. BV95D04P. The authors would like to express their appreciation to Miss Y.-F. Yang and ASSAB Steels Taiwan Co., Ltd. for techniques and equipments support.