In this study, two different compositions of submicron-structured titanium (760 nm) and micron-structured chromium (4.66 μm) powders were mixed to fabricate Cr-31.2 mass% Ti alloys by vacuum hot-press sintering. The research imposed various hot-press sintering pressures (20, 35 and 50 MPa), while the sintering temperature maintained at 1250°C for 1 h. The experimental results showed that the optimum parameters of the hot-press sintered Cr-31.2 mass% Ti alloys were 1250°C at 50 MPa for 1 h. Also, the relative density reached 99.94%, the closed porosity decreased to 0.04% and the hardness and transverse rupture strength (TRS) values increased to 81.90 HRA and 448.53 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the electrical conductivity is enhanced to 1.58 × 104 S·cm–1. However, the grain growth generated during the high-temperature and high-pressure of the hot-press sintering process resulted in the grain coarsening phenomenon of the Cr-31.2 mass% Ti alloys after 1250°C hot-press sintering at 50 MPa for 1 h. In addition, the Cr-31.2 mass% Ti alloys were fabricated with the submicron-structured titanium (760 nm) and chromium (588 nm) powders showed more effective compaction than the micron-structured titanium (760 nm) and chromium (4.66 μm) powders did. The closed porosity decreases to 0.02% and the hardness values increase to 83.23 HRA. However, the agglomeration phenomenon of the Cr phase and brittleness of the TiCr2 Laves phases easily led to a slight decrease in TRS (400.54 MPa).

In this research, Co-30 mass% Cr alloys were fabricated by a vacuum hot-press sintering process. Different amounts of submicron cobalt and chromium (the mean grain size is 800 and 700 nm, respectively) powders were mixed by ball milling. Furthermore, this study imposed various hot-press sintering temperatures (1100, 1150, 1200 and 1250°C) and pressures (20, 35 and 50 MPa), while maintaining the sintering time at 1 h, respectively. The experimental results show that the optimum parameters of hot-press sintered Co-30 mass% Cr alloys are 1150°C at 35 MPa for 1 h. Meanwhile, the sintered density reaches 7.92 g·cm–3, the closed porosity decreases to 0.46%, and the hardness and transverse rupture strength (TRS) values increase to 77.2 HRA and 997.1 MPa, respectively. While the hot-press sintered Co-30 mass% Cr alloys at 1150°C and 20 MPa for 1 h, the electrical conductivity was slightly enhanced to 1.79 × 104 S·cm–1, and the phase transformation (FCC → HCP) of cobalt displayed a slight effect on sintering behaviors of Co-30 mass% Cr alloys. All these results confirm that the mechanical and electrical properties of Co-30 mass% Cr alloys are effectively improved by using the hot-press sintering technique.

In this study, different amounts of tantalum carbide (TaC) powders (5, 10 and 15 wt.%) are added to Vanadis 4 Extra steel powders. The composite powders are sintered at 1260, 1280, 1300, 1320, 1340 and 1360°C for 1 h, respectively. The experimental results showed that good mechanical properties (hardness 79.7 HRA, TRS 2246 MPa) were obtained by the addition of 10% TaC sintered at 1320°C for 1 h. Furthermore, the optimal sintered V4ES/TaC (Vanadis 4 Extra steel / TaC) composites after sub-zero treatment possess the highest hardness (80.9 HRA) and transverse rupture strength (TRS) values (2445 MPa), as well as a better polarization resistance (658.99 Ω·cm2). After sub-zero treatment, the VC carbides decompose and re-precipitate refined VC carbides within the grains (VC carbides are formed in steel powder); moreover, the TaC particles are still uniformly distributed around the grain boundaries, which results in dispersion strengthening and precipitation hardening. The results clearly reveal that sub-zero heat treatment effectively improves the microstructure and strengthens the V4ES/TaC composite.

This study utilizes Ti-8Nb-4Co alloys added to different proportions of Mo2C powders (1, 3, and 5 mass%) by the vacuum sintering process of powder metallurgy and simultaneously vacuum sinters the alloys at 1240, 1270, 1300, and 1330°C for 1 h, respectively. The experimental results indicate that when 3 mass% Mo2C powders were added to the Ti-8Nb-4Co alloys, the specimens possessed the optimal mechanical properties after sintering at 1300°C for 1 h. The relative density was 98.02%, and the hardness and TRS were enhanced to 69.6 HRA and 1816.7 MPa, respectively. In addition, the microstructure of vacuum sintered Ti-8Nb-4Co-3Mo2C alloys has both α and β-phase structures, as well as TiC precipitates. EBSD results confirm that the Mo ₂C in situ produced TiC during the sintering process and was uniformly dispersed in the grain boundary. Moreover, the reduced molybdenum atom acted as a β-phase stabilizing element and solid-solution in the titanium matrix.

This study mixes four different powders to produce Ti-6Cu-8Nb-xCr3C2 (x = 1, 3, and 5 mass%) alloys in three different proportions. The experimental results reveal that when 5 mass% Cr3C2 was added to the Ti-6Cu-8Nb alloys, the specimen possessed optimal mechanical properties after sintering at 1275°C for 1 h. The relative density reached 98.23%, hardness was enhanced to 67.8 HRA, and the transverse rupture strength (TRS) increased to 1821.2 MPa, respectively. The EBSD results show that the added Cr3C2 in situ decomposed into TiC and NbC during the sintering process, and the generated intermetallic compounds (Ti2Cu) were evenly dispersed in the Ti matrix. Furthermore, the reduced Cr atom acts as a β-phase stabilizing element and solid-solution in the Ti matrix. Consequently, the main strengthening mechanisms of the Ti-6Cu-8Nb-xCr3C2 alloys include dispersion strengthening, solid-solution strengthening, and precipitation hardening.