Microhardness of nanocrystalline aluminium phosphate

Nanocrystalline aluminium phosphate with different grain sizes was prepared by a simple and efficient method. Thermolysis of the precursor mass at external temperatures of around 900DGC resulted the required phase. The structural evolutions of the samples as a function of sintering temperature and time were monitored by XRD. The FTIR spectra of the samples were taken and the group bonds and their corresponding shifts were analysed. The microhardness of the samples compacted under different pressure ranges were studied. The variations of microhardness with change in grain size, compacting pressure, and density were studied. The microhardness of the sample did increase with increase of compacting pressure and density. Examination of the results also reveals that the microhardness is increased with reduction of grain size in accordance with the normal Hall-Petch relationship.