MOHAMAD HLASANNADIM - Materials Department, M.Sc. Student of Materials Engineering,Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, ۸۴۱۵۶۸۳III, Iran
GHOLAM HOSEIN BORHANI - Faculty of Materials Department, Malek Ashtar University of Technology,Isfahan, Iran

In two recent decades mechanical alloying (MA) process is considered as a modern method in fabricating powder alloys and intermetallic compounds. MA provides us good results in producing aluminum and its alloys products. In the present essay aluminum powders and alloying elements according to Al-6063 composition have been mixed in a horizontal mixer, then this mixture has been subjected to mechanical alloying process for 15 hours in an inert atmosphere. Powder size and micro hardness was measured in different milling times. In order to study mechanical alloying effects, MA powders were analyzed through XRD, XRF, and DTA. Compressibility of final powders was evaluated after annealing within 300 °C temperature vacuum media. Metallographic structures and influences of milling time on particle size and distribution was studied by means of optical microscopy. An increase in milling time results in a fine homogenous structure; it also decreases the mean particle size to less than 10 pm and the hardness reaches the value of 185 VHN. Nanostructure was obtained through this process and was approved by XRD analysis.

Al-6063 alloy; Mechanical alloying process (MA); Nanostructure; Powder