The influence of processing variables on the structure and mechanical properties of nano-quasicrystalline reinforced aluminium alloys

Aluminium alloy powder having a nominal composition of Al93Fe3Cr2Ti2 (at.%) and a mean size of 50 μm has been prepared using high pressure gas atomisation. The powder was sieved to provide starting materials with well defined size distributions and was consolidated using extrusion. Processing parameters including temperature and extrusion ratio have been investigated as a function of both particle size and initial structure. The influence of process variables on the mechanical properties of the extruded material has been investigated using microhardness and tensile tests at room temperature. The result of these preliminary investigations are presented and discussed.