New aluminum alloy fabrication withstands 400 degrees Celsius

Russian scientists have developed a new low-cost aluminum alloy with advantages such as good electrical conductivity, durability and heat resistance.

The research team at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST MISIS) and some other Russian scientists have created a low-cost aluminum alloy with the ability to withstand temperatures 100 - 150 degrees Celsius higher than other materials. similar data, Sputnik News reported on November 1. The new study was published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds.

Torgom Akopyan, a researcher in the Department of Metallurgy at NUST MISIS. (Photo: Sergey Gnusko/NUST MISIS)

Aluminum and most aluminum alloys are highly resistant to wear in most environments including atmospheres, seawater, fresh water, a wide variety of chemical solutions and foods. In addition to its low specific gravity and good thermal and electrical conductivity, aluminum is widely used in aircraft, automobiles, electronics and industry.

Aluminum alloy wire can be an effective alternative to the heavy and expensive copper conductors in use today. The use of aluminum alloys in aircraft, high-speed rail vehicles and other equipment will help reduce weight and size, thereby significantly saving fuel and reducing harmful waste into the environment. However, the method to produce such alloys is currently very expensive and labor intensive.

The team at NUST MISIS presents the structure of a new aluminum alloy as well as the technology to manufacture conductors from this material. The alloy, they say, is different because it is relatively low cost, easy to manufacture and has some unique physical properties.

"Our material is structurally heat-stable and can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees Celsius. All known aluminum alloys soften significantly at 250 - 300 degrees Celsius. Our alloys include copper. (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zirconium (Zr), offering a unique combination of electrical conductivity, strength, and heat resistance," said Torgom Akopyan, a researcher in the Department of Metal Fabrication at NUST MISIS , said.

One of the key features of the new alloy is that about 10% by volume is composed of special nanoparticles containing zirconium and manganese , scattered throughout the aluminum structure. The alloy is produced by electromagnetic crystallization equipment using ElmaCast technology developed at the Center for Hydrodynamic Magnetic Research and Production (Krasnoyarsk). In the future, the researchers will continue to optimize the chemical composition and processing of the new material.