Phase stability, porosity distribution and microstructural evolution of amorphous Al50Ti50 powders consolidated by electrical resistance sintering

The effect of intensity and duration of the electrical resistance sintering process on the phase stability, porosity distribution and microstructural evolution of Al50Ti50 amorphous powders is studied. The phase transformations during the consolidation process were determined by X-ray diffraction. The porosity distribution was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The amorphous phase is partially transformed to the crystalline phase during the sintering process, and formation of AlTi and AlTi3 intermetallic compounds occurs for temperatures higher than 300 °C. Finally, it is observed that the compacts core have lower porosity and a higher tendency to the amorphous-crystalline phase transformation than the periphery