Papers by Author: K.Y. Sastry

Abstract: Melt-spun flakes and air atomised powder of a multi-component Al-Si-Fe-X alloy were consolidated by field assisted (FAST) or spark plasma sintering (SPS) in vacuum using steel dies and punches. Experiments were carried out at 350, 400, 450 and 500°C under applied loads ranging from 81 to 283 MPa. The resulting compacts were microstructurally and mechanically characterized. Ultimate strength values up to 1000 MPa and plastic strains up to 20% were observed during compression tests. The effect of the powder shape on the sintering behaviour is compared. The effect of process parameters such as temperature and applied load on the densification and mechanical properties is discussed. It was found that compacts sintered from melt-spun flakes resulted in a higher strength and ductility than compacts produced from air-atomized powder, sintered under identical conditions.

Abstract: Future materials for wear resistant components require a combination of excellent mechanical properties such as hardness and toughness, short processing times and good electrical conductivity to facilitate shaping by electro discharge machining (EDM). In this work, the hardness and fracture toughness of t-ZrO2 based electro conductive composites was optimised, while short processing times below 20 minutes using spark plasma sintering were sufficient to obtain near fully dense materials. The influence of powder processing technique using TiC0.5N0.5 as the starting powder and yttria as a stabiliser on the mechanical properties of ZrO2-TiC0.5N0.5-Al2O3 based composites was investigated. Fully dense Y-TZP based composites possessed an excellent toughness of 9.2 MPa.m1/2 and an increased Vickers hardness of 1397 kg/mm².