Superalloy/Al2O3 type composite compacts obtained by spark plasma sintering from mechanically alloyed powders

Fe-base Superalloy/Al2O3 type composite compacts were successfully obtained by spark plasma sintering from mechanically alloyed powders. The superalloy powders without Al2O3 and superalloy/Al2O3 type composites powders with 5 and 10 %vol. Al2O3 were synthesized from elemental powders in a high energy planetary mill. The influence of the milling process on particle size evolution has been determined using a Laser Particle Size Analyzer with an analysis field of 0.1-1000 ?m. The composite compacts were obtained by spark plasma sintering. Both, composite powders, and compacts were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).