Fabrication of Mg-Si System Intermetallic Compounds by Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

The solid-state reaction to form Mg₂Si bulk materials by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process was discussed. Elemental powder mixture of Mg-33.33 mol% Si was refined and consolidated as green compacts by repeated plastic working (RPW). SPS was performed to synthesize and sinter Mg₂Si at 1123 K using the RPWed compact. Peaks of Mg₂Si, where was neither of Mg nor of Si, were solely detected by X-ray diffraction analysis. Mg₂Si bulk began to shrink above 800 K during SPS process, and it was densified significantly. The relative density of SPSed Mg₂Si bulk material sintered at 1123 K reaches to almost 100% of the calculated density.