High-frequency induction heated sintering of High-energy ball milled TiC _0.5N _0.5 powders and mechanical properties of the sintered products

Commercial TiC _0.5N _0.5 powders were high-energy ball milled for various durations and consolidated without binder using the high-frequency induction heated sintering method (HFIHS). The effect of milling on the sintering behavior, crystallite size and mechanical properties of TiCN powders were evaluated. A nanostructured dense TiCN compact with a relative density of up to 98% was readily obtained within 3 min. The ball milling effectively refined the crystallite structure of TiCN powders and facilitated the subsequent densification. The sinter-onset temperature was reduced appreciably by the prior milling for 10 h from 1170 °C to 820 °C. Accordingly, the relative density of TiCN compact increased as the milling time increases. The microhardness of sintered TiCN was linearly proportional to the density while its toughness did not show any correlation with the crystalline size or density. It is clearly demonstrated that a quick densification of nano-structured TiCN bulk materials to near theoretical density could be obtained by the combination of HFIHS and the preparatory high-energy ball milling processes.