Effect of sintering temperature on physical properties and corrosion behavior of compact (al-4.5% cu-1.5 % mg)‎ alloy

Abstract EN

This work aims to study the effect of sintering temperatures on physical properties (density and porosity) and corrosion behavior of compact(Al-4.5%Cu-1.5%Mg) alloy in 3.5% NaCl solution at room temperature using cyclic polarization method.

Powder technology was used to prepare this alloy by mechanical mixing of Al, Cu and Mg powders in a ball mill for 6 hours to ensure a homogenous distribution of powders in the mixture.

Mixed powder was compacted by using single action pressing at (450 MPa) then followed directly by sintering process at different temperatures (520,540,560,580 and 600ºC) for one hour in vacuum furnace under the effect of inert gas condition.

Density ,porosity and microhardness measurements were performed to find the best sintering temperature.

Tafel extrapolation method and cyclic polarization tests were conducted for all sintered samples.

It was shown that the highest density and micro hardness were at sintering temperature 560ºC.

It was found that the pitting corrosion resistance enhances with increasing sintering temperature up to 560ºC and afterword it drops again at higher temperatures (580 and 600ºC).