Fabrication of Al–20 wt%Si powder using scrap Si by ultra high-energy milling process

Abstract

In this study, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Al–20wt%Si and pure Al powders fabricated by ultra high-energy ball milling technique were investigated as a function of milling time. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-milled powders were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Vickers hardness tester. SEM observation showed that the particle size increased at an early stage of milling, and then decreased drastically with further milling. XRD and cross-sectional EDS-mapping analyses revealed that Si particles were not dissolved but uniformly dispersed in the Al matrix in a milled state. Vickers hardness of both pure Al and Al–Si powder increases with milling time, which attributes to the grain size strengthening and dispersion strengthening.