The effect of the particle size of aluminum powder on the sintering of a Cu-Al alloy in the presence of a liquid phase

Abstract

1. During the sintering of mixed copper and aluminum powders at temperatures above the eutectic point, the compacts exhibit growth, which depends on the particle size of the aluminum powder and the rate of heating during sintering. 2. The smaller the aluminum particle size of an alloy and the slower the heating of specimens to the temperature of isothermal holding, the greater is the extent of volume growth in the presence of a liquid phase. 3. The observed growth is attributed to the preferential diffusion of the aluminum atoms from the liquid into the solid phase. When the diffusion cannot proceed to a sufficient extent, the compacts may exhibit shrinkage.