Processing of PM aluminium alloy based gradient materials

Gradient materials were manufactured from powder mixes of aluminium RAl-1 and aluminium alloy Al17Si5Fe3Cu1.1Mg0.6Zr. The preforms were cold pressed with alloy concentrations ranging from 0% to 100%, at 20% intervals, and then closed-die hot forged at 490 °C. From these materials preforms, with a continuous gradient of chemical composition, were produced. The effects of chemical composition gradient on flow of the material and on mechanical properties in compression were examined. Compression strengths ranged from 470 to 800 MPa. Closed-die plastic working and extrusion of two-layer specimens Al–Al alloy were investigated. Specimens were prepared as two – parallel layer and coat – core type. The LARSTRAN/Shape program was used to model the flow of multi-layer materials during forming. The correlation with experimental data demonstrates the usefulness of the modified program for the analysis of the flow of materials type coat – core.