Densification of Al-2024 and Al-2024/Al2O3 Powders by Conventional P/M Route and ECAP: A Comparative Study

Abstract

In this study, mechanically alloyed Al-2024 and Al-2024/Al2O3 powders are densified by conventional sintering and by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) with and without back pressure. The powder was encapsulated in an aluminium can for consolidation through ECAP. The properties obtained in the compacts by conventional sintering route and by ECAP are compared. The effect of conventional sintering and ECAP on consolidation behaviour of powder, microstructure, density and hardness is discussed. Room temperature back pressure aided ECAP results in nearly full denser (97 % of its theoretical density) compact at room temperature. Nano Indentation technique was used to determine the modulus of the consolidated compacts.