Forming pressure effect on microstructure and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline aluminum synthesized by inert gas condensation

The preparation of nanocrystalline aluminum (NC Al) was conducted in two steps. After the NC Al powder was synthesized by an Inert gas condensation (IGC) method in a helium atmosphere of 500 Pa, the NC Al powder was in-situ compacted into a pellet with a 10 mm diameter and 250 μm-300 μm thickness in a high vacuum (10 -6 Pa-10 -7 Pa) at room temperature. The NC Al samples were not exposed to air during the entire process. After the pressure reached 6 GPa, the relative density could reach 99.83%. The results showed that the grain size decreased with the increased of in-situ forming pressure. The NC Al samples present obvious ductile fracture, and the tensile properties were greatly changed with the increase of forming pressure.