Abstract
The synthesis of nanostructured multicomponent (Fe-Mo-Cr-V-C) M50 type steel has been carried out by two chemical routes: the sonochemical decomposition of organometallic precursors and the co-reduction of the respective metal halides. Both methods produce amorphous nanopowders, but the co-reduction method requires an additional heat treatment in vacuum at 700 °C to remove the by-product LiCl. In this paper we describe the synthetic methods and the characterization of the powders by XRD and SEM-EDAX. The powders exhibit a composition very close to that of M50 steel with an average grain size in the nanometer regime. In both cases the powders have been compacted in a vacuum hot press after they were heat treated in hydrogen. The characterization of the compacted specimens by XRD and SEM-EDAX is also discussed. The TEM characterization is presented for the sonochemically produced powders and compacts. A similar characterization of the co-reduced powders and the compacts is in progress. The consolidated specimens are homogeneous and dense, with an average grain size of approximately 30 nm. Their hardness is higher as compared with that of the conventional M50 alloy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 49-54 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Materials Research Society Symposium - Proceedings |
| Volume | 400 |
| State | Published - 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Proceedings of the 1995 Fall MRS Symposium - Boston, MA, USA Duration: 27 Nov 1995 → 30 Nov 1995 |