Manufacturing and processing of aa3303 aluminum alloy by synthesis of elementary powders by powder metallurgy techniques of high energy ball milling and hot extrusion

This work’s main objective was the manufacture of an aluminum alloy AA3303 by powder metallurgy technique and its characterization. The powders were processed by high energy ball milling (HEBM) for 30, 60 and 120 minutes and then characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dispersive energy spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and finally, Laser Diffraction granulometry. After the characterization of the powders, they were consolidated by cold uniaxial compaction, followed by hot extrusion. Finally, the microstructural characterization of the sintered samples was performed using SEM, the chemical composition of the material was analyzed using the EDS technique, and then the material was subjected to the Vickers microhardness tests, enabling the study of the hardness property obtained in the samples. He characterization of the powders submitted to HEBM showed that with increasing grinding time the median particle size decreased, reaching values very close to those found in commercial AA100 aluminum. The materials consolidated by hot extrusion showed a homogeneous microstructure and almost free of porosity, resulting in excellent hardness values and attesting to the mechanical quality of the samples consolidated by hot extrusion.