The Effect of Ball Milling on Properties and Consolidation of Nanostructured ZrB₂.

ZrB₂ powders were milled using high-energy ball for various durations and consolidated using the pulsed current activated sintering (PCAS). The effects of milling on the sintering behavior and crystallite size ZrO₂ powders were investigated. A nanostructured dense ZrB₂ specimen with a relative density of up to 97% was readily achieved within 3 min. The ball milling effectively refined the crystallite structure of ZrB₂ powders and facilitated the subsequent consolidation. The sinter-onset temperature was reduced appreciably by the prior milling for 10 h. Accordingly, the relative density of ZrB₂ compact increases as the milling time increases. The hardness and fracture toughness of sintered ZrB₂ increased as the density increases.