Investigation into microstructural and mechanical properties of Al–Sn alloy fabricated using accumulative roll bonding combined with heat treatment

Abstract

Al–Sn-based alloy was produced using the accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process followed by heat treatment. The effect of ARB cycles and various heat treatment temperatures (300–600 °C) and times (15–60 min) was studied. Microstructural, structural, and mechanical properties of the samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), hardness, tensile, and wear tests at room temperature. Microstructural observations featured aluminum grains with a grain-boundary distribution of the tin phase, confirming the successful production of Al–Sn alloy by using the ARB process followed by the heat treatment process. The ultimate tensile strength and hardness values of the produced alloys were 110 MPa and 45 HV, respectively, after 8th ARB cycles and heat treatment at 600 °C and holding for 30 min. Besides, the wear resistance of the prepared Al-12 wt% Sn alloy was increased when the ARB cycles increased from the first cycle to the 8th cycle. In conclusion, this study reflected that mechanical working (ARB process) combined with heat treatment is an appropriate route to achieve Al–Sn alloy with relatively suitable properties.