Abstract
The atomized Al-12 and 17mass%Si alloy powders were precompacted in a cylindrical die and heated at eutectic temperature for various periods. The volume fraction of solid phase in the slurry was controlled by heating period. When the small quantities of liquid phase was formed, the density reaches to over 99% of the calculated value by applied compressive stress of low level. However, if the volume fraction of solid phase decreases to 50%, the large voids form in the center of products. The size of silicon particles crystallized from the liquid phase becomes large with decreasing of the volume fraction of solid, but this coarsening of silicon particles is suppressed by pressing continuously before the generation of liquid phase. The bonding strength between the powder particles increases by the continuous pressing.
