Microwave assisted sintering of Al-Cu-Mg-Si-Sn alloy.

Microwave sintering has been a well-established technique to consolidate metal powders due to its instantaneous volumetric and rapid heating as compared to conventional heating. Al-3.8Cu-1Mg-0.8Si-0.3Sn (2712) alloy powders were compacted (200 and 400 MPa) and microwave sintered at different temperatures (570 to 630 degrees C) under different atmospheres (vacuum, N2, Ar and H2). Increasing sintering temperature enhanced sintered density from 91% to 98%. Sintering under vacuum at 590 degrees C was more efficient with a densification parameter of 0.36 followed by N2, Ar and H2. Regardless of the sintering condition, phase analysis via XRD revealed the presence of only alpha-Al peak attributed to lesser time available for diffusion of alloying elements. In addition, microstructural inhomogeneity leading to more intergranular melt formation was observed for all sintered compacts. Contrasting to densification, sintering in N2 resulted in better corrosion resistance.