Nonisothermal sintering of Cr ₂ AlC powder

This work studies the sintering behavior of ultrafine powder of Cr ₂ AlC compound during nonisothermal heating using a dilatometer. Sample exhibits relatively slower densification under pressureless condition where relative density increased from about 61% (green compact) to about 73% during heating up to 1350°C. Axial shrinkage data were analyzed through the volume diffusion and grain boundary diffusion‐based sintering models. Estimated activation energy of sintering (352 kJ /mol) for volume diffusion mechanism, was found to be closely matching with the reported activation energy of chromium diffusivity, indicating volume diffusion as a controlling mechanism and chromium as a major diffuser in Cr ₂ AlC.