Microstructure and mechanical Property of Fe-Al2O3 nanocomposites synthesized by reactive milling followed by spark plasma sintering

The in-situ Fe based nanocomposite containing Al2O3 particle is synthesized by reactive milling of Fe2O3-Al-Fe powder mixture in toluene medium followed by consolidation of powders using Spark Plasma Sintering process. Transmission electron microscopy investigation of consolidated Fe-Al2O3 nanocomposites has shown heterogenous grain structure of Fe consisting of nano, submicron and micron size grains together with nanometer Al2O3 particles. The hardness of Fe-Al2O3 nanocomposites consolidated at 800°C is 795 MPa.