Sinterability and characterization of commercial aluminum powder metallurgy alloy Alumix 321

• Optimum sintering profile of Alumix 321 alloy achieved a theoretical density of 98%.
• DSC illustrated that the sintering of Alumix 321 involved the LPS events.
• Optimal heat treatment includes solutionizing to 530 °C for 1 h, water quench and aging at 160 °C for 18 h.

The sinterability of Al-Mg-Si powder metallurgy PM alloy was investigated. This alloy is equivalent to AA6061 and known commercially as Alumix 321. Commercially available Alumix 321 has been sintered in a broad range of temperatures. Green uniaxially pressed compacts in the range of 100–500 MPa were sintered at temperatures in the range of 610–640 °C. The investigated alloy shows a good sintering response and 98% theoretical density (TD) was achieved. An optimal sintering profile has been selected and the mechanical properties were measured in T1, T6 tempers. Hardness, tensile strength and yield strength values obtained were close to the industrially published values. In addition to the sintering and heat treatment, the microstructure of sintered material has been examined and characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy.

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