Nano-powders of Ni and Al2O3 were synthesized from NiO and Al powders by high energy ball milling. The nanocrystalline Al2O3 - reinfored composite was consolidated by a pulsed current activated sintering(PCAS)) method within 2 minutes from mechanically synthesized powders of Al2O3 and 3Ni. The average hardness and fracture toughness values obtained were 690 kg/mm2 and 6.1MPa·m1/2, respectively.
Keywords: Rapid sintering, Composite, Nanophase, Mechanical properties, Ni-Al2O3.