On the sintering of uncompacted, pre-alloyed Al powder alloys

The effect of the addition of elemental Mg, Sn and Pb on the sintering of unpressed prealloyed 2124 and 6061 powder has been investigated. Despite being sintered at a temperature that resulted in ∼20 vol.% liquid phase, high density was possible only upon the addition of ∼1% elemental Mg as well as trace amounts of Sn or Pb. Additions of Mg facilitated oxide disruption, while Sn and Pb segregated to the liquid phase, where they reduced the liquid's surface tension, thus improving sintering.