DEGASSING OF AL-SI-X POWDERS ASSISTED BY FLUSHING WITH ARGON OR NITROGEN

The results reported in this paper showing the effect of different degassing modes on the Al-20Si-3Cu-1Mg powder are a complement of our previous papers concerning the continuous and non-continuous degassing sequences of the same powder. This research was mainly directed at an improvement in the technique to remove volatile and gaseous contaminants from the porous compact made from the Al-20Si-3Cu-1 Mg powder. This improvement has been possible by modifying the conventional degassing process of the powder as reported previously, namely degassing of the powder assisted by flusing with depurative gases such as argon or nitrogen. It is apparent that flushing with argon or nitrogen increases the efficiency of moisture and hydrogen evolution in comparison with the conventional degassing mode.