An investigation on the capability of equal channel angular pressing for consolidation of aluminum and aluminum composite powder

摘要

In this study equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was used as a technique for consolidation of attri-tioned aluminum powder (45 μm) with varying concentration of nano alumina powders (35 nm) in tube at 200 °C. The effect of ECAP on consolidation behavior of composite powder and mechanical properties of subsequent compacts are presented. It is found that ECAP has the capability of consolidating pure aluminum powder, Al-5 vol% A1_2O_3 and Al-10 vol% A1_2O_3 to near their theoretical density and also decluster-ing of the agglomerated alumina particles after maximum four passes. However full consolidation of Al-15 vol% AI_2O_3 before emanating the cracks on the tube material was not possible and about 1% porosity remains in the compacted composite which degrades the mechanical properties of this composite in comparison to the aluminum composites with 5 vol% and 10 vol% alumina.