Dynamic consolidation of aluminium and Al-20 V/o SiCp composite powders

Aluminium powders and Al-SiCp composite powders have been compacted in the form of cylinders using explosives. The effect of processing parameters such as the explosive pad thickness and the impact energy on the density of the compacts has been investigated. The microstructural variations in the compacts have been studied with respect to the explosive pad thickness used and pressures imparted on the powder compacts. The hardness variation over the cross section of the Al-20 V/o SiCp composite compacts have been studied with respect to the variation in the thickness of the explosive pads. The optimum processing conditions for the production of compacts of aluminium and Al-20 V/o SiCp systems by dynamic compaction have been defined