SIMPLE POWDER METALLURGY PROCESSING OF Al-8Fe-4Ce ALLOYS

摘要

Currently, the processing of advanced P/M aluminum alloys requires many complicated steps that are cost prohibitive for many industries. Many of the costly processing steps are aimed at overcoming the effects of the tenacious aluminum oxide surface film typical of commercially produced aluminum powder. Previous work in the area of atomization processing of aluminum alloys has shown that pure aluminum powder can be produced with a significantly reduced oxide surface. The current work focused on consolidation processing Al-8wt%Fe-4wt%Ce with a reduced oxide surface. Al-8wt%Fe-4wt%Ce powder with a diameter less than 75 μm was canned, evacuated and extruded at approximately 370℃. The extruded bar was mechanically tested at room temperature, 250℃, and 325℃ resulting in ultimate tensile strengths of 447 Mpa, 392 Mpa, and 362 Mpa respectively. Room temperature tensile testing of alloys annealed at 250℃ and 325℃ for 100 hours showed little degradation in mechanical properties.