Effect of mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ODS Eurofer

Journal article (2019)

Authors

J. Fu (OLD) MSE-5
J.C. Brouwer (OLD) MSE-1
I.M. Richardson (OLD) MSE-5
M.J.M. Hermans (OLD) MSE-5
Research Group
(OLD) MSE-1
Copyright: © 2019 J. Fu, J.C. Brouwer, I.M. Richardson, M.J.M. Hermans
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2019.107849
More Info
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

Research Group

(OLD) MSE-1

Abstract


Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS)Eurofer steel was prepared via mechanical alloying (MA)and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Different combinations of MA and SPS parameters were adopted in order to optimise the fabrication process. The experimental results show that the sample milled for 30 h, sintered at 1373 K at a pressure of 60 MPa has the highest density and microhardness among all the results obtained. As-produced ODS Eurofer shows a bimodal microstructure with homogeneously dispersed nanoscale Y
2
O
3
, that is beneficial for the mechanical properties. The yield and tensile strengths are higher while the elongation is lower in the top and bottom surfaces compared to the middle area of the sample. This is due to the presence of a larger number of M
23
C
6
carbides, resulting from carbon diffusion from the mould material. As-produced samples were also subjected to a heat treatment. A good balance is achieved between the strength and ductility of the heat-treated material. Yielding properties comparable to hot isostatic pressing or hot extrusion as reported in the literature, the processing route presented by this study shows potential to produce high performance ODS Eurofer.