TiB/sub 2/-Cu interpenetrating phase composites produced by spark-plasma sintering

Interpenetrating phase composites of TiB/sub 2/-Cu system were produced via spark-plasma sintering (SPS) of nanocomposite powders. Under simultaneous action of pressure, temperature and electric current the titanium diboride nanoparticles distributed in copper matrix move, agglomerate and form a fine-grained skeleton. Increasing SPS-temperature and holding time promote densification due to local melting of copper matrix. When copper melting is avoided, the compacts contain 17-20% porosity but the titanium diboride skeleton is still formed representing the feature of SPS. High degree of densification and formation of titanium diboride network results in increased hardness of high-temperature SPS-compacts.