| Abstract Scope |
Nanostructured (ns) Al-7075 was prepared via cryogenic milling i.e. mechanical attrition in liquid nitrogen, followed by consolidation using spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The cryomilled powders were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for grain size, lattice strain, powder morphology and thermal evolution during heat treatment. Consolidated pucks were produced by Two-Step Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). A consolidated density of 98% has been determined using the Archimèdes density measurement technique. The average grain size of the consolidated pucks, measured by XRD broadening, was 188 nm with an internal strains of 0.06%. Mechanical properties such as hardness and three-point bending strength under as-consolidated and after a specially designed heat treatment will also be presented. |