The microhardness and microstructural characteristics of bulk molybdenum samples obtained by consolidating nanopowders by plasma pressure compaction

In this paper is presented consolidation of nanometer-sized molybdenum powders to form bulk samples by the technique of Plasma Pressure Compaction ðP 2 CÞ. The nanocrystalline powders, consolidated at a temperature of 1400 C and pressure of 48 MPa for a time period of 3 min, had a theoretical density of 97%. The presence of distributed agglomerates in the nanocrystalline powders has an influence on density and microstructure of the bulk metal sample. To facilitate comparison micrometer-sized powders of molybdenum were also consolidated, at a temperature of 1650 C, and had a theoretical density of 98.5%. The bulk sample obtained by consolidating nanocrystalline powders had a higher microhardness (2.95 GPa) than the sample obtained by consolidating from micron-sized powders (2.16 GPa). 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.