Synthesis and characterisation of Al₂O₃/Ni-type composites obtained by spark plasma sintering

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the influence of sintering on the structure, morphology and compressing strength of alumina/nickel composite compacts obtained by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Al₂O₃/Ni composites were prepared by SPS in argon atmosphere at temperatures in the range of 1000–1200 –C with a holding time of 2, 5 and 10 minutes. The heating rate was 200  C min⁻¹. These composites have been characterised by X-ray diffraction, SEM and EDX. The relative density and compressive strength of the as-obtained compacts were determined. The results showed that the alumina particles are uniformly dispersed in a quasi-continuous Ni network, and there was no sign of phase changes during sintering. The maximum strength of the alumina/nickel composite with a content of 75 vol. − Al₂O₃ and 25 vol. − Ni was about 240 MPa for the samples sintered at 1200 C for 10 minutes.

Special block from the conference RoPM2017 guest edited by Ionel Chicinas, Technical University, Cluj-Napoca.

KEYWORDS:

• Ni/Al₂O₃ composites
• SEM
• XRD
• spark plasma sintering
• mechanical properties
• microstructure

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Cristina Voicu has received the engineering degree in 2010 at Thechnical University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and a Master degree in 2012 at the same university. Now she is PhD student in Materials Engineering at Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (final stage). Subject of PhD thesis: Al₂O₃/Ni - type composites obtained by mechanical milling and spark plasma sintering.

Florin Popa has received physics degree in 2003 at Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and Master in solid state physics at the same University in 2004. He has a PhD (2008) in Materials Science received from Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and a PhD in Physics of Materials received from Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France. Currently, he is lecturer and researcher at Materials Science and Engineering Department from Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. Research fields: magnetic materials, Heusler alloys, mechanical alloying, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis, X-ray diffraction, magnetism, heat treatments, thermal analysis. Hirsch index: 8 (ISI Web of Science). Researcher ID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-1964-2015.

Traian Florin Marinca has received physics degree in 2000 at Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca and Master in Physics at the same University in 2001. PhD in Materials Science at Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in 2011 with a thesis in the field of mechanical milling and alloying related to the synthesis of soft magnetic nanocomposite materials. Currently, he is lecturer and researcher at Materials Science and Engineering Department from Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. Research fields: synthesis and characterisation of materials especially by mechanical alloying and sintering and other techniques associated to powder metallurgy, magnetic materials, oxides of soft magnetic ferrite type, nanocrystalline materials etc. Hirsch index: 8 (ISI Web of Science). ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-5784-2012.

Bogdan Viorel Neamţu has received the engineering degree in 2005 at Thechnical University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and a Master degree in 2006 at the same university. He has a PhD (2010) in Materials Science received from Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and a PhD in Physics of Materials received from Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France. Currently, he is occupying the position of lecturer and researcher at Materials Science and Engineering Department from Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. Research fields: synthesis and characterisation of amorphous/nanocrystalline materials, soft magnetic materials (composites and sintered), spark plasma sintering, mechanical alloying, rapid quenching etc. Hirsch index: 8 (ISI Web of Science). ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-5674-2011.

Mihaela Lostun received the Diploma of Physicist-Engineer in Technological Physics (2005), M.Sc. Degree (2007) in Plasma physics, spectroscopy and polymer physics and Ph.D. degree (2011) in physics from the „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi, Romania. She is employed by the National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics, Iaşi, Romania (2005-present). Research fields: magnetic powders obtained by high energy milling, amorphous and nanocrystalline / nanostructured / nanocomposite materials with soft or hard magnetic properties, Spark plasma sintering (SPS), surface magnetization processes in thin films, nanowires, conventional wires, glass-coated microwires and ribbons using high-sensitivity experimental techniques Magneto-Optical Kerr effect. Hirsch index: 7 (ISI Web of Science). ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-5023-2011.

Nicoleta Lupu received the B.Sc. degree in physics, M.Sc. Degree in condensed matter physics and Ph.D. degree in physics from the „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi, Romania, in 1996, 1997 and 2001, respectively. She was employed by the National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics, Iaşi, Romania (1997-present), Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, France (2002 and 2003), Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (2003-2004), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, France (2004-2005). She was also Invited Profesor at L'Université du Maine, Le Mans, France (2006) and Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (2010, 2012, 2015). Research fields: magnetic amorphous and nanostructured materials, magnetic nanomaterials, hydrogen storage materials, microsensors for medicine, magnetic sensors and devices, magnetoelastic materials. Hirsch index: 17 (ISI Web of Science). ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-7291-2011.

Ionel Chicinaş received the B.Sc. degree in physics (1978), M.Sc. Degree in solid state physics (1979) from Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and engineer degree (1991) and Ph.D. degree in Materials Engineering (1998) from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He was employed by Institute for Nuclear Power Reactors, Piteşti, Romania (1989-1983) and now is professor at Materials Science and Engineering Department from Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. He was also invited professor at Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France (2004), invited researcher at Université Joseph Fourier/Néel Institut, Grenoble, France (4 stages in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010) and invited professor at Paul Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia (seminar nov. 2013. Research fields: polycrystalline/nanocrystalline/nanosized and nanocomposite powder and compacts, especially magnetic materials; elaboration/characterisation of hard magnetic materials, soft/hard magnetic composites, alloy/dielectric composite and compacts, nanocrystalline/nanocomposite compacts by spark plasma sintering (SPS); mechanical alloying (two new methods of MA developed, SPS home-made equipment). Hirsch index: 15 (ISI Web of Science). ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-5139-2009.

ORCID

Florin Popa http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8849-1902

Traian Florin Marinca http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5531-5451

Bogdan Viorel Neamţu http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0666-8303

Nicoleta Lupu http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2188-8187

Ionel Chicina http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6371-0689

Additional information

Funding

C. Voicu is grateful for the grant POSDRU/159/1.5/S/137070 (2014) of the Ministry of National Education, Romania, co-financed by the European Social Fund – Investing in People, within the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007–2013.