Al-Based Nanocomposites Produced via Spark Plasma Sintering: Effect of Processing Route and Reinforcing Phases

Abstract

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a sintering technique utilizing uniaxial force and a pulsed direct current to perform metallic or ceramic particle consolidation in very short times. The high heating and cooling rates allow to prevent excessive grain growth favoring densification. Spark plasma sintering has been recognized, in the recent past, as a very useful method to produce metal matrix composites with enhanced mechanical and wear properties. Obviously, the materials final properties are strongly related to the reinforcement types and percentages as well as to the processing parameters employed during synthesis. First of all materials density and hardness depend on the employed heating and pressure conditions during sintering. The addition of reinforcing phases modifies the potential process parameters that can be employed during sintering and obviously the final materials properties. These are a direct function of different factors such as type, size, and percentage. All these aspects are described in the present chapter.