Title: Effect of particle size, compaction pressure on density and mechanical properties of elemental 6061Al alloy through powder metallurgical process

Authors: S. Solay Anand; B. Mohan

Addresses: ARM College of Engineering and Technology, Maraimalai Nagar, Sattamangalam, 603209, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Technology, MIT Campus, Anna University, Chennai, 600044, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Powder metallurgy is a continually and rapidly evolving technology, embracing most metallic and alloy materials and a wide variety of shapes. Compaction pressure and particle size of the powders used plays a vital role in determining the strength of the powder metallurgical parts. In this paper the effect of particle size and compaction pressure on density, micro hardness and ultimate tensile strength of an elemental 6061 aluminium alloy has been investigated. Aluminium particle sizes of 20 µm and 150 µm were used. Compaction of alloy powder was carried out at different pressures of 450 MPa, 500 MPa, 550 MPa, 600 MPa and 650 Mpa. When compared with fully heat treated aluminium compacts with aluminium particle size of 150 µm, the fully heat treated aluminium compacts with particle size of 20 µm showed an optimum Vicker's micro hardness value of 78 HV and ultimate tensile strength of 148 MPa, at compaction pressure of 550 MPa. Irrespective of the aluminium particle sizes, optimum compaction pressure is 550 MPa which gives better micro hardness and tensile strength values.

Keywords: particle size; compaction pressure; powder metallurgy; P/M; composite materials; mechanical properties; density; mechanical properties; aluminium alloys; composites; microhardness; tensile strength.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2012.049265

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2012 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.259 - 268

Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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