Ultra-low temperature fabrication of vanadium carbide reinforced aluminum nano composite through spark plasma sintering

The vanadium carbide reinforced aluminium matrix composite has been fabricated successfully by using high-pressure spark plasma sintering at very low temperature (220 °C) for the first time. Applying 30, 150 and 300 MPa pressure have prepared three different samples. The microstructure investigation revealed layer-by-layer formation of the composite for all samples. It is observed that layer to layer interfacial bonding was perfect by applying 300 MPa during sintering process. The proposed mechanism for sintering behavior at ultra-low temperature was introduced cold welding; plastic deformation and micro spark between particles. The optimum physical and mechanical properties obtained from composites prepared at maximum applied pressure (300 MPa) showing 99% of theoretical density, 332 MPa bending strength and 264 hardness (Vickers).