Structure and properties of the ceramics based on quasicrystal powders processed by plasma coating method

Homogeneous incorporation of a small amount of binding material or modifying agent in the batch consisting of micron size particles is a problem of a composite material production process. In this work the problem is solved by deposition of a thin coating consisting of binding material on the initial powder particles by means of high-rate magnetron sputtering. The confinement of dusty particles in plasma was used in fine powder processing procedure. Composite powders based on the Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystalline particles with nickel coating were obtained. Their investigation showed that the method provides uniform incorporation of small quantities of additives (at concentration of about 3 wt. %) to fine powders. The powders were pressed at room temperature under quasi-hydrostatic conditions at high pressures. After pressing the samples were sintered in hydrogen at normal pressure. Structure and mechanical properties of the sintered samples were studied. The conditions of sintering the composite powder, which provide producing compacts with improved performance data, were established.