Aluminum and Inorganic Natural Pigment Colored Composites by Powder Metallurgy Forming

Aluminum powder, along with other powders such as steel or stainless steel, is extensively used in powder metallurgy (PM) to produce complex samples with irregular geometric shapes. PM enables the incorporation of fillers to modify the physical, mechanical, or wear properties of aluminum without mel...

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Main Authors: Miguel Angel Martínez, Juana Abenojar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Metals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/1/58
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author Miguel Angel Martínez
Juana Abenojar
author_facet Miguel Angel Martínez
Juana Abenojar
author_sort Miguel Angel Martínez
collection DOAJ
description Aluminum powder, along with other powders such as steel or stainless steel, is extensively used in powder metallurgy (PM) to produce complex samples with irregular geometric shapes. PM enables the incorporation of fillers to modify the physical, mechanical, or wear properties of aluminum without melting, thereby preventing phase segregation. The novelty of this work lies in the use of inorganic natural pigments (INPs). The primary goal of this study is to produce colored aluminum samples via PM without compromising their mechanical properties. INPs are first characterized to select those with the highest heat resistance. The composites are fabricated with different pigments (10 wt%), formed through uniaxial compaction at 500 MPa, and sintered in a nitrogen atmosphere at 610 °C for 30 min. Density, color, bending strength, and wear are evaluated to identify the most suitable pigment for gas kitchen burners. Mars red, Cobalt blue, and Chrome green pigments provide the best coloration. Dimensional variation is generally less than 1%. The pigments increase the material’s brittleness by 41% to 77%, resulting in a bending modulus increase of up to 160% and deformation reduction of up to 70%. In some cases, intermetallic compounds improve bending strength, as in Al–Chrome green, by 30%. Al–Chrome green exhibits wear resistance comparable to aluminum, with a 40% lower friction coefficient. X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDX confirm AlCr and AlCo intermetallic particles. Thermal stability is verified after 160 heating and cooling cycles without significant material degradation.
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spelling doaj-art-c59ee280b9f94f3f82fb725b2e6045112025-01-24T13:41:33ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012025-01-011515810.3390/met15010058Aluminum and Inorganic Natural Pigment Colored Composites by Powder Metallurgy FormingMiguel Angel Martínez0Juana Abenojar1Materials Science and Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, SpainMaterials Science and Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, SpainAluminum powder, along with other powders such as steel or stainless steel, is extensively used in powder metallurgy (PM) to produce complex samples with irregular geometric shapes. PM enables the incorporation of fillers to modify the physical, mechanical, or wear properties of aluminum without melting, thereby preventing phase segregation. The novelty of this work lies in the use of inorganic natural pigments (INPs). The primary goal of this study is to produce colored aluminum samples via PM without compromising their mechanical properties. INPs are first characterized to select those with the highest heat resistance. The composites are fabricated with different pigments (10 wt%), formed through uniaxial compaction at 500 MPa, and sintered in a nitrogen atmosphere at 610 °C for 30 min. Density, color, bending strength, and wear are evaluated to identify the most suitable pigment for gas kitchen burners. Mars red, Cobalt blue, and Chrome green pigments provide the best coloration. Dimensional variation is generally less than 1%. The pigments increase the material’s brittleness by 41% to 77%, resulting in a bending modulus increase of up to 160% and deformation reduction of up to 70%. In some cases, intermetallic compounds improve bending strength, as in Al–Chrome green, by 30%. Al–Chrome green exhibits wear resistance comparable to aluminum, with a 40% lower friction coefficient. X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDX confirm AlCr and AlCo intermetallic particles. Thermal stability is verified after 160 heating and cooling cycles without significant material degradation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/1/58powder metallurgyaluminuminorganic natural pigmentcolorimetrymechanical propertieswear resistance
spellingShingle Miguel Angel Martínez
Juana Abenojar
Aluminum and Inorganic Natural Pigment Colored Composites by Powder Metallurgy Forming
Metals
powder metallurgy
aluminum
inorganic natural pigment
colorimetry
mechanical properties
wear resistance
title Aluminum and Inorganic Natural Pigment Colored Composites by Powder Metallurgy Forming
title_full Aluminum and Inorganic Natural Pigment Colored Composites by Powder Metallurgy Forming
title_fullStr Aluminum and Inorganic Natural Pigment Colored Composites by Powder Metallurgy Forming
title_full_unstemmed Aluminum and Inorganic Natural Pigment Colored Composites by Powder Metallurgy Forming
title_short Aluminum and Inorganic Natural Pigment Colored Composites by Powder Metallurgy Forming
title_sort aluminum and inorganic natural pigment colored composites by powder metallurgy forming
topic powder metallurgy
aluminum
inorganic natural pigment
colorimetry
mechanical properties
wear resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/1/58
work_keys_str_mv AT miguelangelmartinez aluminumandinorganicnaturalpigmentcoloredcompositesbypowdermetallurgyforming
AT juanaabenojar aluminumandinorganicnaturalpigmentcoloredcompositesbypowdermetallurgyforming