Wear and oxidation resistance of Al2O3 particle dispersed Al3Ti composite with a nanostructure prepared by pulsed electric current sintering of mechanically alloyed powders

Al3Ti-matrix composite layers containing Al2O3 particles were formed on Ti substrate by pulsed electric current sintering (PECS) of mechanically alloyed (MA) powders to improve the wear and oxidation properties of the Ti substrate. Reducing the grain size of each element by MA makes the combustion synthesis of Al3Ti possible at a lower temperature. The grain size formed by the combustion synthesis of Al–Ti–Al2O3 powder mechanically alloyed for 720 ks was about 10 nm and its growth during sintering was suppressed by the existence of Al2O3. The densification behavior of the powder was investigated quantitatively. The obtained Al3Ti/Al2O3 composite layer showed better wear and oxidation resistance than the monolithic Al3Ti layer. # 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.