Sinterability studies of monolithic chromium diboride (CrB2)byspark plasma sintering

Abstract

Spark plasmasintering (SPS) experiments were conductedto investigate the effectof theprocessingparameters such as temperature, mechanical pressure and dwell time on densification behavior of monolithic chromium diboride. The sintering experiments were performed at different temperatures ranging from 1100 °C to 1900 °C under the mechanical pressure of 30 MPa–70 MPa for 1 min–15 min duration. The onset temperature for the densification ofCrB2 isobservedtobe1300°Cat50MPa.Highdensechromiumdiboride(98.4%ρth)compact wasobtainedwhenprocessedat1900°Cunderamechanicalpressureof70MPafor15minduration.Hardness and fracture toughness of high density monolithic CrB2 (98.4%ρth) sample were measured to be 15.89 ± 1.3 GPa and 1.8 ± 0.14 MPa·m1/2 respectively.