An investigation on the capability of equal channel angular pressing for consolidation of aluminum and aluminum composite powder

In this study equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was used as a technique for consolidation of attritioned aluminum powder (45 μm) with varying concentration of nano alumina powders (35 nm) in tube at 200 °C. The effect of ECAP on consolidation behavior of composite powder and mechanical properties of subsequent compacts are presented. It is found that ECAP has the capability of consolidating pure aluminum powder, Al-5 vol% Al2O3 and Al-10 vol% Al2O3 to near their theoretical density and also declustering of the agglomerated alumina particles after maximum four passes. However full consolidation of Al-15 vol% Al2O3 before emanating the cracks on the tube material was not possible and about 7% porosity remains in the compacted composite which degrades the mechanical properties of this composite in comparison to the aluminum composites with 5 vol% and 10 vol% alumina.

Research highlights► Fabrication of bulk nano composite with varying concentration of nano alumina by ECAP. ► Declustering of the hard alumina agglomerates by using ECAP. ► Achieving higher hardness and strength values at lower temperature and lower load.