Abstract
The present paper investigates the potential of the SPS route to improve the mechanical properties of the AZ91 alloy by controlling, in-situ within the SPS machine, the precipitation kinetics of the hardening Al12Mg17 precipitates. To this end, an as-atomised AZ91 powder was sintered by SPS and the formation of the Al12Mg17 phase was controlled by introducing an in-situ precipitation treatment at 200 °C in the wake of a conventional sintering treatment cycle at 360 °C. The influence of the sintering and the in-situ precipitation dwell times on the microstructure (grain size, Al12Mg17 vol fraction) and associated mechanical properties (hardness, compressive properties) were investigated. Using longer sintering times at 360 °C improved the material cohesion while keeping fairly fine grain sizes. The subsequent treatment at 200 °C triggered continuous and discontinuous Al12Mg17 precipitations. Compared to the cast AZ91-T6 treated alloy, the SPS material produced by a combination of 2 h of sintering followed by 2 h of in-situ precipitation led to a significant improvement in mechanical properties: hardness +16%, Yield Compressive Strength (YCS) +59%, Ultimate Compressive Strength (UCS) +32% and strain at UCS +12%.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
