Nanopowders of Si and Al4C3 were fabricated using high energy ball milling. The average grain sizes of Al4C3 and Si measuredusing X-ray diffraction patterns were lower than 50 nm, respectively. Highly dense nanostructured Al-SiC composite wassimultaneously synthesized and consolidated within short time from the mechanically activated powders using pulsed currentactivated heating. The microstructure and mechanical properties (hardness and fracture toughness) of the Al-SiC compositewere evaluated.
Keywords: Sintering, Composite, Nanomaterial, Mechanical properties, Synthesis