Development and strengthening of aluminium alloy (Al-Cu) by mechanical working and heat treatment

Abstract

Understanding the mechanical properties of materials is one of the most difficult tasks faced by the solid state physicist and progress in this direction has not been as great as in the case of the electrical, thermal and magnetic properties. For the purpose of discussion it is convenient to classify the mechanical properties as elastic or plastic and as structure sensitive or structure insensitive. Elastic properties are the appropriate elastic constants, while plastic properties include the strength properties and the creep, fatigue and fracture characteristics. Modern cutting tools, gadgets, aerospace parts made from hard alloys have caused a real revolution in this field and they depend on the above properties. The finished parts are produced without machining and for an example, in the manufacture of gears by P/M, the technological process consists of simple and labour saving operations, obtaining the powder pressing, sintering and sizing. Based on the above fact the project is undertaken and keen interest is shown on the development and strengthening of aluminium alloy (Al- Cu Composites) by mechanical working and heat treatment.