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Spark plasma sintering of a nanocrystalline Al-Cu-Mg-Fe-Ni-Sc alloy

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Abstract

The microstructure and aging behavior of a nanocrystalline Al-Cu-Mg-Fe-Ni-Sc alloy was studied. The nanocrystalline powders were produced by milling at liquid nitrogen temperature and then consolidated using spark plasma sintering (SPS). The microstructure after SPS consisted of a bimodal aluminum grain structure (coarse-grained and fine-grained regions), along with Al9FeNi and Al2CuMg particles dispersed throughout. The microstructure observed in the as-consolidated sample is rationalized on the basis of high current densities that are generated during sintering. Solution treatment and aging of the SPS Al-Cu-Mg-Fe-Ni-Sc sample resulted in softening instead of hardening. This observation can be explained by the reduced amount of Cu, Mg, and Si in solid solution available to form S′ Al2CuMg due to the precipitation of Al7FeCu2 and Si-rich particles, and by the fact that rodlike S′ Al2CuMg particles could only precipitate out in the coarse-grained regions, greatly decreasing their influence on the hardness. This lack of precipitation in the fine-grained region is argued to represent a new physical observation and is rationalized on the basis of physical and thermodynamic effects. The nanocrystalline SPS Al-Cu-Mg-Fe-Ni-Sc sample was also extremely thermally stable, retaining a fine-grained structure even after solution treatment at 530°C for 5 h. The observed thermal stability is rationalized on the basis of solute drag and Zener pinning caused by the impurities introduced during the cryomilling process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, 95616, Davis, CA

    Alejandro Zúñiga (Postdoctoral Candidate), Leonardo Ajdelsztajn (Research Scientist) & Enrique J. Lavernia (Dean of Engineering)

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  1. Alejandro Zúñiga
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  2. Leonardo Ajdelsztajn
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  3. Enrique J. Lavernia
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Zúñiga, A., Ajdelsztajn, L. & Lavernia, E.J. Spark plasma sintering of a nanocrystalline Al-Cu-Mg-Fe-Ni-Sc alloy. Metall Mater Trans A 37, 1343–1352 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-006-1086-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-006-1086-7

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