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    Ultrafine-grained, nanophase samples of TiO/sub 2/ (rutile) were synthesized by the gas-condensation method and subsequent in-situ compaction, and then studied by transmission electron microscopy, Vickers hardness measurements, and positron annihilation spectroscopy as a function of sintering temperature. The nanophase compacts densified rapidly above 500/sup 0/C, with only a small increase in grain size. The hardness values obtained by this method are comparable to or greater than coarser-grained compacts, but at temperatures 400 to 600/sup 0/C lower than conventional sintering temperatures and without the need for sintering aids. 11 refs., 3 figs.
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