Preparation of FeB-Ni Hard Materials by Both Electroless Plating and Spark Sintering, and Their Mechanical Properties

FeB-Ni hard materials were consolidated by both electroless plating and spark sintering processes for the development of ubiquitous hard materials. Uniform nickel layers were formed quantitatively on as-received FeB powder surfaces. The amorphous Ni layers transformed to poly-crystalline during spark sintering. Sintering curves of FeB-Ni compacts showed the similar behaviors regardless of Ni contents, although their apparent relative densities were increased with the increment of Ni contents. Moreover, the sintering mechanism of FeB-Ni and pure Ni compacts consisting of both the plastic deformation and power law creep deformation occurred during spark sintering. Their maximum points of Ḋ were shown in the D of approximately 0.78. The plastic and power law creep deformation were predominantly consolidation mechanisms before and after maximum Ḋ , respectively. Values in H R A of FeB-Ni compacts were decreased with increment of the Ni contents. The compressive stress of FeB-Ni compacts was decreased with the increment of the Ni contents in contrast to the compressive strain.