Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
A rapid consolidation technique has been utilized in producing single phase AI2O3 in less than 10 minutes at 1400°C resulting in a grain size less than 500 nm. TiO2 has been added in hopes of obtaining Al2O3/Al2TiO5 nanocomposites in sintering times less than 30 minutes. The sintering process involves resistance heating of a graphite die containing the powder at heating rates of about 10 °C/s. The resistance heating step is preceded by a preparatory step consisting of DC voltage pulses applied across a prepressed powder compact. The retention of the nanostructure is attributed to the rapid heating rate although the possible effect of the DC pulses are also discussed. An Al2O3/Al2TiO5 composite has been produced during a short anneal immediately following sintering of an Al2O3/TiO2 nanocomposite. Substantial grain growth has been observed to occur during the transformation taking the composite to the microcrystalline regime.