Abstract
Behavior of Tin and Magnesium on the surface of aluminum alloy powder during heating has been examined by in-situ analysis using XPS. Tin distributed in the aluminum alloy powder acts as a liquid state over 505K and is concentrated below the surface Al2O2 film which covers the powder. This phenomenon has no relation with Magnesium content in the powder. However, it is necessary to include Magnesium into the powder when Tin in the liquid state appears on the powder surface during heating. This is because Magnesium acts to deoxidize and destroy Al2O3 films. Therefore, the temperature of the appearance of Tin coincides with that of the appearance of the metallic aluminum after deoxidization of surface Al2O3 films, and it corresponds to the temperature range from 670K to 700K. The area of the exposed metallic aluminum at the particle surface decreases with increase in Tin content. This is because the liquid Tin is squeezed out from the reduced and cracked Al2O3 film and covers the particle surface.
