Sintering of aluminium and magnesium alloy fiber structures

Due to their oxygen affinity, magnesium and aluminium alloys are difficult-to-sinter materials. Either mechanical destruction or the action of a liquid phase can be used to break up oxide layers and thus achieve the desired diffusion bonds between the individual particles. In the present work, a liquid phase sintering approach is used in conjunction with high-purity particulates and controlled processing conditions in order to achieve a porous sintered product. Appropriate sinter conditions were determined with the help of thermodynamic calculations using the PANDAT software package. As no organic or other auxiliary substances are required, it is possible to obtain high-purity, high-porosity (up to 90 %) parts with exclusively open porosity. Such parts may find application as degradable implants or, in the case of aluminium, as heat exchangers in phase change heat storage or adsorption cooling devices.