ABSTRACT
Sintering, under both air and nitrogen atmospheres, of high performance air- and nitrogen-atomized Al-20Si-5Fe-2Ni P/M alloys was performed. Characterization of the powders included an evaluation of powder morphologies, determination of powder sizes and size distribution, determination of total oxygen contents and description of the microstructures. The specific surface areas were determined by the BET method and the thickness and chemical composition of the surface oxide films by Auger electron spectroscopy. Thermodifferential and thermogravimetric analyses of the powders were performed. A thermodynamical analysis, by means of the SOLGASMIX computing program, to study the influence of different sintering atmospheres is presented. Powders were consolidated by cold isostatic pressing at different pressures, sintered at different temperatures and times. The final microstructures were analyzed and the tensile properties determined.
