Microstructure evolution and densification during spark plasma sintering of nanocrystalline W-5wt.%Ta alloy

The present work reports the effect of Ta on densification and microstructure evolution during non-isothermal and spark plasma sintering of nanocrystalline W. Nanocrystalline W-5wt.%Ta alloy powder was synthesised using mechanical alloying. The nanocrystalline powders were characterised thoroughly using X-ray diffraction line profile analysis. Furthermore, the shrinkage behaviour of nanocrystalline powder was investigated during non-isothermal sintering using dilatometry. Subsequently, the alloy powder was consolidated using spark plasma sintering up to 1600°C. The role of Ta on stabilising the microstructure during spark plasma sintering of nanocrystalline W was investigated in detail using electron backscatter diffraction. The average grain size of spark plasma sintered W-5wt.%Ta alloy was observed as (Formula presented.) µm.