Nanostructured Al87Ni8.5Ce3Fe1Cu0.5 alloy prepared by mechanical milling spark plasma sintering and hot extrusion

In this study, Al–Ni–Ce–Fe–Cu alloy powders with composition of Al87Ni8.5Ce3Fe1Cu0.5 (at%) were atomized and then subjected to mechanical milling for different hours. The consolidation of the mechanical milled powders was performed by using spark plasma sintering followed by hot extrusion. Microstructure analysis and mechanical properties test were employed to the powders and the bulk samples, respectively. XRD patterns and DSC curves indicated that amorphous and nanocrystalline microstructure was obtained after milling for 170 h. Room temperature compression test showed that the as-extruded bulk sample made from 170 h milled Al–Ni–Ce–Fe–Cu powders had fracture strength of about 780 MPa, however, without any visible fracture deformation. In addition, the ductility can be significantly optimized by introducing 20 wt% pure Al powder. The strengthening mechanisms of the bulk samples were discussed.