Microstructure investigation of light weight Al/Si/Ni hypoeutectic material prepared by powder metallurgy method

Abstract

In this study, the researchers examined the impact of adding different percentages of nickel (0 %, 0.01 %, 0.05 %, 0.1 wt%) to an aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) alloy. Aluminum alloys are widely used in various industries due to their lightweight nature and favorable mechanical properties. The microstructure of the alloy was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests.The XRD and SEM analyses revealed that the Al-Si alloy consisted of two phases: α-Al and Si. The introduction of nickel resulted in the detection of an intermetallic compound (IMC) known as Al3Ni. This IMC caused changes in the lattice constant and interatomic spacing (dhkl). The observed distortions and densification in the microstructure were identified as indicators of increased hardness and strength in the alloys. The researchers attribute this enhancement in microstructure properties to the elevated temperature, which facilitated greater diffusion of nickel atoms into the aluminum lattice.

Keywords

• X-ray
• SEM
• Al3Ni
• Powder metallurgy
• Hypoeutectic
• Lattice constant