Microstructural behaviour of spark plasma sintered composites containing bimodal micro- and nano-sized Al2O3 particles

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has been recognised, in the recent past, as a very useful method to produce metal matrix composites with enhanced properties if compared with traditional powder metallurgy techniques. Obviously, the materials final properties are strongly related to the reinforcement types and percentages as well as to the processing parameters employed during synthesis. The present paper analyses the effect of microscopic and nanometric alumina particles, blended to pure aluminium in different combinations, on the final properties of metal matrix composites produced via SPS. A strong variation in the microstructural behaviour has been observed by varying the nano to micro alumina particles percentage blended with aluminium ones.