Self-Consolidation Mechanism of Nanostructured Ti5Si3Compact Induced by Electrical Discharge

Abstract

Electrical discharge using a capacitance of 450 μF at 7.0 and 8.0 kJ input energies was applied to mechanical alloyed Ti5Si3powder without applying any external pressure. A solid bulk of nanostructured Ti5Si3with no compositional deviation was obtained in times as short as 159 μsec by the discharge. During an electrical discharge, the heat generated is the required parameter possibly to melt the Ti5Si3particles and the pinch force can pressurize the melted powder without allowing the formation of pores. Followed rapid cooling preserved the nanostructure of consolidated Ti5Si3compact. Three stepped processes during an electrical discharge for the formation of nanostructured Ti5Si3compact are proposed: (a) a physical breakdown of the surface oxide of Ti5Si3powder particles, (b) melting and condensation of Ti5Si3powder by the heat and pinch pressure, respectively, and (c) rapid cooling for the preservation of nanostructure. Complete conversion yielding a single phase Ti5Si3is primarily dominated by the solid-liquid mechanism.