Influence Of Mixing Technique On Sintering response Of Binary Aluminium Alloy Powders

Aluminium powder metallurgy (Al-PM) alloys are finding promising applications in many areas such as household appliances, automotive vehicles and many other allied sections where reduction in weight is the primary constraint. In the proposed research, two binary alloy systems Al-X were studied by mixing elemental powders of Aluminium (Al), Tin (Sn) and Magnesium (Mg). Two types of mixing techniques were followed. In one case, elemental powders were blended in a mechanical mixer without any mixing media (A) and another case powders were blended with ball to powder ratio of 10:1 (B). The content in binary premix was varied from 0.4 to 0.8 % Sn (by wt.) and 0.5 to 2 % Mg (by wt.) with base of Aluminium. The blended powders was compacted at 450 MPa followed by sintering in ultra high purity nitrogen atmosphere in tubular sintering furnace at 600oC. The mixing technique B showed significant influence on increase in hardness by two-fold and reduction in dimensional growth.