Nano-crystalline tungsten powder prepared by high - energy ball milling was consolidated without pressure and with pressure, respectively. The change of the particle size and morphology, and the relative density of the sintering compact as a function of consolidation temperature has been studied by SEM, TEM and X - ray diffraction. The sinterability of nanocrystalline tungsten powder is compared with that of coarse - grained tungsten powder. It is found that the usual layered structure does not develop during the high - energy ball milling of brittle materials. This work demonstrates that the sinterability of nanocrystalline powder is far superior to that of a coarse - grained one.Correspondent: Chen Xianfeng, Candidate for Master Degree, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi'arl Jlao'tong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China, Tel: 086 - 29 - 3268912