Sintering Characteristics of Al-Pb/Fly-Ash Metal Matrix Composites

Aluminum-lead/10 wt% fly-ash powder mixtures containing 0-20 wt% lead (Pb) were prepared. These powder mixes were compacted in the pressure range of 200-400 MPa by single action die compaction process. The prepared compacts were sintered in the temperature range of 500, 530, 560 and 590 A degrees C in an argon gas atmosphere for duration of 45 min. For the sintered compacts, the sintered density, hardness and compressive strength were reported. Sintered density, hardness and compressive strength increased with the increase in compaction pressure. Sintered density increased whereas the hardness and the compressive strength decreased with the addition of Pb.