Effect of high-energy ball-milling on the spark plasma sinterability of ZrB2 with transition metal disilicides

A wide suite of powder mixtures of ZrB2 with five different additions of transition metal disilicides (MeSi2; 5, 17.5, or 30 vol% MoSi2; 17.5 vol% TaSi2; or 17.5 vol% ZrSi2) were prepared by high-energy ball-milling (HEBM) for different times, and their optimal densification temperatures were evaluated by dilatometric spark-plasma-sintering (SPS) tests to compare their sinterability. SPS densification tests at the so-determined optimal densification temperatures were also performed in selected cases. It was found that HEBM progressively enhanced the sinterability, especially once the ZrB2 particle sizes were refined to the ultrafine range or below (