Grain growth resistance and increased hardness of bulk nanocrystalline fcc cobalt prepared by a bottom-up approach

Bulk nanocrystalline cobalt was prepared from reducing flame-spray-derived cobalt nanopowders exclusively in the face-centred cubic (fcc) modification. Compacts of similar to 60% density were obtained from uniaxial compression at room temperature and showed a strong resistance towards grain growth upon subsequent sintering to 90% relative density. The nanocrystalline structure remained stable well above 1000 degrees C and resulted in a pore-rich metal with about 10(15) nanovoids cm(-3). These sintered compacts displayed an up to three times higher bulk hardness if compared to conventional cobalt and local ductility as evidenced from scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation. The strong grain-growth resistance and consequent increase in material hardness are discussed in respect of the presence of nanovoids, twin boundaries and material contamination.