Effects of Methanol and Stearic Acid as Processing Control Agents in AA6061 Aluminum Alloys Produced by Powder Metallurgy
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Keywords:
AA6061, Powder Metallurgy, Particle Control Agent, Methanol, Stearic AcidAbstract
Aluminum 6061 (AA 6061) alloy is an aluminum alloy with high strength and durability
properties, widely used in modern engineering applications. Thanks to the advantages of powder
metallurgy, the production of the alloy by powder metallurgy is increasing day by day. One of the
parameters used in powder metallurgy production is particle control agents (PCA).
In this study, the microstructural and mechanical properties of AA 6061 alloy powders produced using
different PCA types were investigated. Optical microstructure images show that the addition of PCA
significantly affects the microstructure of the powders after sintering. Powders without PCA addition
displayed randomly fractured, crushed, flaky, and spherical particles, whereas powders with stearic acid
exhibited a more regular morphology with particles of varying sizes. Powders with methanol addition
contained the smallest average particle sizes and spherical particles, and also had the lowest micro-void
fraction among the powders.
Hardness and density analyses reveal that the types of PCA significantly affect the mechanical properties
of the powders. Powders without PCA had the lowest hardness at 23.26 HV, while powders with stearic
acid added had the highest hardness at 32.03 HV. The hardness of powders with methanol added was
measured at 26.78 HV. The density values were found to be 2.197, 2.422, and 2.504 g/cm³ for powders
without PCA, with stearic acid, and with methanol added, respectively. The lowest density was observed
in the powders without PCA, while the highest density was observed in the powders with stearic acid
added. The results indicate that the addition of PCA led to noticeable changes in the hardness and density
values of the powders.
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