Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synthesis and spark plasma sintering of Al-Mg-Zr alloys

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although casting is commonly used to process aluminum alloys, powder metallurgy remains a promising technique to develop aluminum based materials for structural and functional applications. The possibility to synthesize Al-Mg-Zr alloys through mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering techniques was explored. Al-10Mg-5Zr and Al-5Mg-1Zr alloyed powders were synthesized through wet ball milling the appropriate amount of elemental powders. The dried milled powders were spark plasma sintered through passing constant pulsed electric current with fixed pulse duration at a pressure of 35 MPa. The samples were vacuum sintered at 450, 500, 550, 600 and 620 °C for 10, 15 and 20 min. The Al-10Mg-5Zr alloy displays poor densification at lower sintering temperatures of 450, 500, 550 and 600 °C. Its sinterability is improved at a temperature of 620 °C whereas sintering temperatures higher than 620 °C leads to partial melting of the alloy. It is possible to sinter the Al-5Mg-1Zr alloy at 450, 500 and 550 °C. The increase of sintering temperature improves its densification and increases its hardness. The Al-5Mg-1Zr alloy displays better densification and hardness compared to Al-10Mg-5Zr alloys.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. MILLER W S, ZHUANG L, BOTTEMA J, WITTEBROOD A J, DE SMET P, HASZLER A, VIEREGGE A. Recent development in aluminium alloys for the automotive industry [J]. Mater Sci Eng. A, 2000, 280: 37–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. SAHEB, N, LAOUI T, DAUD A R, YAHAYA R, RADIMAN S. Microstructure and Hardness behaviours of Ti-containing Al-Si alloys [J]. Phil Mag, 2002, 82: 803–814.

    Google Scholar 

  3. VINTILA R, CHAREST A, DREW R A L, BROCHU M. Synthesis and consolidation via spark plasma sintering of nanostructured Al-5356/B4C composite [J]. Mater Sci Eng A, 2011, 528: 4395–4407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. CHOI P P, KIM J S, NGUYEN O T H, KWON D H, KWON Y S, KIM J C. Al-La-Ni-Fe bulk metallic glasses produced by mechanical alloying and spark-plasma sintering [J]. Mater Sci Eng A, 2007, 449/450/451: 1119–1122.

    Google Scholar 

  5. MULA S, MONDAL K, GHOSH S, PABI S K. Structure and mechanical properties of Al-Ni-Ti amorphous powder consolidated by pressure-less, pressure-assisted and spark plasma sintering [J]. Mater Sci Eng A, 2010, 527: 3757–3763.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. GAO X, YUAN Y, ZHANG D J, LI W, LIN R D, CUI J M, LUO F H. Influence of double press/double sinter processing on sintered alloys made from pre-alloyed steel powder [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2011, 42(9): 2628–2634. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  7. ZHU F X, YI J H, PENG Y D. Sintering response of copper powder metal compact in microwave field [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2009, 40(1): 106–111. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  8. WANG X F, HUANG Q Z, YIN C L, TAN R X, NING K Y, WU C C. Wet friction properties of copper-based material via powder metallurgy [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2008, 39(3): 517–521.

    Google Scholar 

  9. SAHEB N, MENG P T, DAUD A R. Compaction and sintering behaviour of A356-fly ash composites: A preliminary investigation [J]. Powder Metall, 2007, 50: 54–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. LI S L, LIU Y, CUI J M, YANG W Z, LI H P, HE Y L. synthesis and hydrogen desorption properties of Mg2FeH6 hydrogen storage material by reactive mechanical alloying [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2008, 39 (1): 1–6. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  11. SHEN G, LIN F, MA X M, SHI W Z, OUYANG H W. Mechanical alloying of Cr-Fe-Mn mixed powder and its magnetic exchange interaction [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2005, 36(3): 364–368. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  12. LU L, LAI M O. Mechanical alloying [M]. Boston: Kluwer Academic, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  13. XU C Y, JIA S S, CAO Z Y. Synthesis of Al-Mn-Ce alloy by the spark plasma sintering [J]. Mater Chara, 2005, 54: 394–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. SHI Xiao-liang, YANG Hua, WANG Sheng. Spark plasma sintering of W-15Cu alloy from ultrafine composite powder prepared by spray drying and calcining-continuous reduction technology [J]. Mater Chara, 2009, 60: 133–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. KUBOTA M. Properties of nano-structured pure Al produced by mechanical grinding and spark plasma sintering [J]. J Alloys Comp, 2007, 434/435: 294–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. XQ C Y, JIA S S, CAO Z Y. Synthesis of Al-Mn-Ce alloy by the spark plasma sintering [J]. Mater Chara, 2005, 54: 394–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. SASAKI T T, MUKAI T, HONO K, A high-strength bulk nanocrystalline Al-Fe alloy processed by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering [J]. Scrip Mater, 2007, 57: 189–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. SASAKI T T, OHKUBO T, HONO K, Microstructure and mechanical properties of bulk nanocrystalline Al-Fe alloy processed by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering [J]. Acta Mater, 2009, 57: 3529–3538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. CHEN Han-bin, TAO Kai, YANG Bin, ZHANG Ji-shan. Nanostructured Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy synthesized by cryomilling and spark plasma sintering [J]. Trans. Nonferrous Met Soc China, 2009, 19: 1110–1115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. JATINKUMAR KUMAR RANA, SIVAPRAHASAM D, SEETHARAMA RAJU K, SUBRAMANYA SARMA V. Microstructure and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline high strength Al-Mg-Si (AA6061) alloy by high energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering [J]. Mater Sci Eng A, 2009, 527: 292–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. SAHEB N. Spark plasma sintering of Al6061 and Al2124 alloys [J]. Advanced Materials Research, 2011, 284/285/286: 1656–1660.

    Google Scholar 

  22. ABDULLAH K, HAKEEM A S, SAHEB N. Optimization of process parameters in spark plasma sintering of Al6061 and Al2124 aluminum alloys [J]. Advanced Materials Research, 2011, 328/329/330: 1517–1522.

    Google Scholar 

  23. SAHEB N. Spark plasma and microwave sintering of Al6061 and Al2124 alloys [J]. International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials, 2013, 20 (2).

  24. LAVERNIA E J, GOMEZ E, GRANT N J. The structures and properties of Mg-Al-Zr and Mg-Zn-Zr alloys produced by liquid dynamic compaction [J]. Mater Sci Eng, 1987, 95: 225–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. HAMANA D, NEBTI S, HAMAMDA S. Effect of the zirconium addition on the microstructure of Al+8WT%Mg alloy [J]. Scrip Mater, 1990, 24: 2059–2064.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. VETRANO J S, BRUEMMER S M, PAWLOWSKI L M, ROBERTSON I M. Influence of the particle size on recrystallization and grain growth in Al-Mg-X alloys [J]. Mater Sci Eng A, 1997, 238: 101–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. YIN Zhi-min, PAN Qing-lin, ZHANG Yong-hong, JIANG Feng, Effect of minor Sc and Zr on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Mg based alloys [J]. Mater Sci Engi A, 2000, 280: 151–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. OCENASEK V, SLAMOVA M. Resistance to recrystallization due to Sc and Zr addition to Al-Mg alloys [J]. Mater Charach, 2001, 47: 157–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. KAIBYSHEV R, MUSIN F. Superplastic behavior of an Al-Mg alloy at elevated temperatures [J]. Mater Sci Eng A, 2003, 342: 169–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. BUSO S J, FILHO A A, MONTEIRO W A. Characterization by TEM of a supersaturated P/M Al-Mg-Zr alloy after thermal treatments [J]. Materials Science Forum, 2003, 426–432: 4179–4184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. AL-AQEELI N, MENDOZA-SUAREZ G, LABRIE A, DREW R A L. Phase evolution of Mg-Al-Zr nanophase alloys prepared by mechanical alloying [J]. J All Comp, 2005, 400: 96–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. HAZELTON L E. The effect of composition and milling conditions on the structure of mechanically alloyed Mg-Al based alloys [J]. Metall Mater Tran A, 2011, 32: 3099–3108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. EDELSTEIN A S, CAMMARATA R C. Nanomaterials: Synthesis, properties and application [R]. Bristol and Philadelphia, PA, Institute of Physics, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  34. GERMAN R M. Powder metallurgy science [M]. Princeton, NJ, Metal Powder Industries Federation, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  35. GERMAN R M. Sintering theory and practice [M]. New York, John Wiley, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  36. ORRÙ R, LICHERI R, MARIO A LOCCI, CINCOTTI A, CAO G. Consolidation/synthesis of materials by electric current activated/assisted sintering [J]. Mater Sci Eng R, 2009, 63: 127–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. VISWANATHAN V, LAHA T, BALANI K, AGARWAL A, SEAL S. Challenges and advances in nanocomposite processing techniques [J]. Mater Sci Eng R, 2006, 54: 121–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. ADACHI J, KUROSAKI K, UNO M, YAMANAKA S. Porosity influence on the mechanical properties of polycrystalline zirconium nitride ceramics [J]. J Nucl Mater, 2006, 358: 106–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. JIN X, GAO L, SUN J. Preparation of nanostructured Cr1−x TixN ceramics by spark plasma sintering and their properties [J]. Acta Mater, 2006, 54: 4035–4041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. KIM Y H, SEKINO T, KUSUNOSE T, NAKAYAMA T, NIIHARA K, KAWAOKA H. Electrical and mechanical properties of K, Ca ionic-conductive silicon nitride ceramics [J]. Ceram Trans, 2005, 165: 31–38.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering/Center of Research Excellence in Nanotechnology, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, 31261, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    N. Saheb, A. S. Hakeem, A. Khalil, N. Al-Aqeeli & T. Laoui

Authors
  1. N. Saheb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. S. Hakeem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Khalil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Al-Aqeeli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. T. Laoui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Saheb.

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(ARP-28-122) supported by King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KAC ST) of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saheb, N., Hakeem, A.S., Khalil, A. et al. Synthesis and spark plasma sintering of Al-Mg-Zr alloys. J. Cent. South Univ. 20, 7–14 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1452-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1452-8

Key words

Search

Navigation