X-ray CT observation of pore structures of porous metal fabricated by sintering and dissolution process and its mechanical properties

Abstract

Functionally graded porous aluminum (Al) was fabricated by spark plasma sintering process. In this process, the mixture of Al alloy powder, TiH₂ powder and Al₂O₃ powder (powder I) and the mixture of pure Al powder and sodium chloride (NaCl) powder as spacer particle (powder II) were used as starting materials. The powder mixtures were sintered by spark plasma sintering. Pores were formed by foaming and dissolution process. In this study, pore structures of obtained porous Al were nondestructively observed by X-ray computing tomography (CT).