The Effects of Rapid Solidification on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al5083

In the present study, bulk refined-structured Al 5083 alloy with high mechanical properties was successfully fabricated by a hot consolidation process of nanostructured melt-spun flakes. The influence of the cooling rate and pressing conditions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy were investigated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), microhardness, and compression tests. Rapid solidification combined with the hot consolidation at T= 753 K (480 degrees C) and P= 800 MPa for 20 min produced a bulk sample with the desirable bonding, good microhardness (184.2 +/- 12.4 HV), and high strength (273 +/- 8 MPa) combined with 7 pct. fracture strain. These amounts are 78.6 +/- 5.1 HV, 148 +/- 9 MPa, and about 5 pct. for the as-cast sample. Microstructural refinement during the controlled consolidation of nanostructure rapidly- solidified flakes contributes to such high mechanical properties of the bulk sample.