Macro-Interface Characteristics of Bimodal-Structured Al Materials Produced by Ball-Milling

Abstract

The bimodal-structured materials composed of Al-5wt%Mg alloy and its composites reinforced with SiC and Al2O3 particles were prepared by ball-milling and subsequent compaction under the pressure of 350MPa and sintering at temperatures ranging from 973K to 1173K for 1h, 3h and 5h. The macro-interface between Al-Mg and Al-Mg/ Al2O3 composite was macroscopically well-bonded compared to that between Al-Mg and Al-Mg/SiC composite under same sintering conditions. The bonding of macro-interface became better as the sintering time and temperature increased, resulting in that the bimodal-structured materials sintered at 1173K for 5h showed the relative density of nearly 100%. In addition, the higher sintering temperature was, the more irregular macro-interface was. The microhardness of macro-interface area was in between the Al- Mg and composites, which was independent of the sintering temperature.