The development of the automotive industry requests the light construction materials, which can guarantee optimal mechanical and usable properties of the products. The aluminium is one of such materials, which, however, has a low hardness and a poor wear resistance. Aluminium-based composites, strengthened by dispersion or by hard ceramic particles, may fulfil demands made to the new materials.
The problem of manufacturing Al-Cu composites by the hot closed-die forging of the compacts made of metal powders is investigated in present paper. The aim of presented researches is the evaluation of an influence of the hot deformation of the AI-5.5%Cu composite --based on the home-grown, sprayed aluminium powder and electrolytic copper powder on their final density and mechanical properties.
As the result of the hot closed-die forging of the compacts, materials with a high degree of density were obtained. Mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated after heat treatment and ageing. It is proved, that the conditions of the heat treatment have an essential influence on the mechanical properties.
Metallographic analysis was made on the materials after heat treatment. After tha hot deformation, precipitations were observed in the material. Their size decreases after heat treatment. The fractures are plastic and proceed through the grains. It is proved, that hot deformation of the compacts lets us to: i) obtain products with a high degree of density, ii) apply semiproducts with porosity of 20-30%, which can be obtained by compacting with comparatively low unit pressure, what has an influence on the tool life, iii) apply such composite materials, based on powders, to construction elements, iv) eliminate expensive hot isostatic pressing process.