Investigation of producing AA6060 aluminium alloy powders and ribbons with melt spinning method

In this study, AA6060 aluminium alloy powders and ribbons was produced with melt spinning technique in high vacuum atmosphere. Different types of wheels such as smooth and toothed wheels were used. The smooth wheel was used in production of ribbon and the effects of melt spinning parameters such as wheel speed, ejection pressure, ejection temperature (superheat), nozzle – wheel gap and nozzle width on the properties of ribbons in terms of ribbon thickness, morphology and microstructure were investigated. On the other hand, AA6060 powders were produced by using toothed wheel and the effects of process parameters on the mean particle size, morphology and microstructure of produced powders were studied. In the present study, ribbons of 28 - 171 µm thickness, 4 – 8 mm width and 1-2 m length were produced by using smooth wheel. The ribbon thickness decreased with increasing wheel speed, ejection temperature, decreasing ejection pressure, nozzle-wheel gap and nozzle width. Cooling rates of produced ribbons were in the range of 9,20x103 - 0,96x103 depending on ribbon thickness. The mean particle sizes of produced powders using toothed wheel were in the range of 161-274 µm depending on process parameters. The mean particle size of powders decreased with increasing wheel speed, superheat and decreasing ejection pressureand nozzle-wheel gap. The shapes of produced powders were in the shapes of ligamental, flake and irregular. Cooling rates of produced powders were in the range 6,44x102 – 1,58x102 depending on the mean particle size.