The Effect of Different Activation Methods on Microstructure, Hardness and Densification Behavior of Sintered Mo Powder

In this article, sintering activation methods of Mo powder (chemical, mechanical and surface activation) were studied. For this purpose, the milled/reduced Mo nanopowder was sintered at 900, 1100 and 1400 ºC for 1 hr. For comparison of sintering activation methods (mechanical and chemical activation) and their effects on microstructural characteristics, commercial micropowder Mo as well as Ni additive was used. The samples were compacted under a pressure of 400 MPa and then sintered at 1400 ºC for 1 hr. The microstructure of sintered samples was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) along with EDS. Phase analysis was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The sintered densities of samples were measured by Archimedes method. Relative densities of specimens obtained from micro, nano, micro+20% nano and micro+1.5% Ni additive powders were attained as 80%, 93%, 86% and 95%, respectively. It was found that the δ-NiMo intermetallic layer may be formed at the grain's boundaries due to Ni additive, leading to grain boundary microcracks as well as loss of mechanical properties of samples.