Microstructure, Fracture and Mechanical Properties of ECAPed Aluminum P/M Alloy with Respect to the Porosity

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of different processing conditions on the behavior of a P/M (Powder Metallurgy) aluminum alloy with respect to the microstructure, fracture and mechanical properties. Moreover, the evolution of porosity as a consequence of pressing, sintering and ECAPing processes was investigated. A commercial Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Fe powder was used as material to be investigated. Different compacting pressures (400, 500, 600, 700 MPa) were applied. Specimens were dewaxed in a ventilated furnace at 400 °C for 60 min before sintering. Sintering was carried out in a vacuum furnace at 610 °C for 30 min. The specimens were ECAPed for 1 pass. The 2-dimensional quantitative image analysis was carried out by means of SEM and OM for the evaluation of the dimensional and morphological porosity characteristics. The detailed microstructure revealed the main features of sintering processes as well as secondary pores at the prior alloying particle sites. The tensile fracture surfaces in both studied processing condition (as-sintered and ECAP) show limited ductility, with fracture occurring on a plane normal to the tensile stress axis. Examination at higher magnifications revealed predominantly transparticle ductile features. In terms of mechanical properties, ECAP is almost doubling the tensile strength of the as-sintered materials