Microstructure of Al–Fe alloys sintered via in situ microfusion process

AbstractIn the in situ microfusion (ISM) process, a small volume of liquid is formed during sintering by the heat generated in an exothermic reaction of the alloy system. Thus, it is possible to carry out liquid phase sintering in alloy systems where there is an exothermic reaction between the elements, whereas conventional liquid phase sintering is restricted. In this work, the microstructural changes associated with processing conditions have been investigated and the microstructural characteristics of the ISM process defined. A further study of the effects of the processing conditions on microstructure together with densification would be of use in understanding the mechanism of the ISM process and pursuing its application to other alloy systems.MST/1619