Precipitation distribution in mechanically alloyed Al-Cu-Li powders processed via friction consolidation

Friction consolidation (FC) was deployed to illustrate the mechanical alloying effect of Al-Cu, Al-Li, and pure Cupowder through phase transformation behavior. A progressive material flow from the periphery to the center ofthe FC die was witnessed, along with expansion perpendicular to the direction of rotation, indicating variousdegrees of alloying. Two types of precipitate, δʹ(Al3 Li) and T1(Al2CuLi), were identified, exhibiting differentdistributions, attributed to variations in Cu content and thermo-mechanical processing. Mechanical tests showedslight anisotropic mechanical properties of the consolidated samples. By estimating the precipitate strengtheningeffect using physical models, the strengthening of δʹ was found to be more prominent than that of T1, whichmight be more prone to strain localization. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of FC in processing Al-Cu-Li alloys and serve as basis for further improvements in the final product through the addition of minoralloying elements, demonstrating an energy-efficient manufacturing process for such alloys.