Investigation Regarding Al-Al2O3 Composite Material Production and Its Weldability to Aluminum by Diffusion Welding

Abstract

In this study, firstly, a composite material aluminum based and containing 10 % Al2O3 by weight is produced by powder metallurgy method. In the production of composite samples being 10 mm in diameter and 15 mm in length, first Al and Al2O3 powders were mixed for 2 hours in a high – energy attritor and then pressed in a unidirectional axial die at 800 MPa pressure. The pressed samples were sintered in a tubular furnace in a protective argon gas ambiance at 650°C for 2 hours. As for the second stage, the composite samples have been welded by diffusion welding to an Al block material in 99.5% purity and in the same dimensions at 5 MPa – constant load at different temperatures and durations by diffusion welding. The strength values of welded samples were determined by making shear tests from the welding zones versus composite material.