Influence of Molding Parameters on Quasi-Static Mechanical Properties of Al-Rich Al/PTFE/TiH₂ Active Materials

Preforming pressure and the pressure holding time are important parameters of the molding process, which directly affect the mechanical properties of materials. In order to obtain the best molding parameters of Al-rich Al/PTFE/TiH₂ composites, based on the quasi-static compression test, the influence of molding parameters on the mechanical properties of Al-rich Al/PTFE/TiH₂ composites was analyzed, and the microstructure characteristics of Al-rich Al/PTFE/TiH₂ specimens were analyzed by SEM. An X-ray diffractometer was used to analyze the phase of the residue after quasi-static compression experiment. The results show that: (1) With the increase in molding parameters (preforming pressure and the pressure holding time), the compressive strength, failure strain and toughness of Al-rich Al/PTFE/TiH₂ specimens first increase and then decrease. The best molding process parameters of Al-rich Al/PTFE/TiH₂ materials are preforming pressure 240 MPa and the pressure holding time 100 s. (2) For unsintering specimens, when the preforming pressure is less than 150 MPa, the porosity of the specimen increases slowly at first and then decreases. When the preforming pressure is greater than 150 MPa, the porosity of the specimen increases first and then decreases. When the pressure holding time is no more than 100 s, the porosity of the specimen decreases gradually. When the pressure holding time is more than 100 s, the porosity of the specimen increases first and then decreases. For sintered specimens, when the preforming pressure is less than 100 MPa, the porosity of the specimen decreases gradually. When the preforming pressure is greater than 100 MPa, the porosity of the specimen first increases and then decreases. With the increase in the pressure holding time, the porosity first increases and then decreases. For each preforming pressure specimen, compared with that before sintering, the porosity after sintering either decreases or increases. For each the pressure holding time specimen, the porosity increases after sintering compared with that before sintering. The microstructure of PTFE crystal inside the specimen is mainly planar PTFE crystal. The size and number of planar PTFE crystals are significantly affected by the molding parameters, which further affects the mechanical properties of Al-rich Al/PTFE/TiH₂ specimens. When the preforming pressure is less than 100 MPa, the planar PTFE crystals are small and few, which results in the worst mechanical properties of the specimens. When the preforming pressure is more than 100 MPa and does not contain 240 Mpa, the planar PTFE crystals are small and there are more of them, which results in better mechanical properties of the specimens. When the preforming pressure is 240 MPa, the planar PTFE crystals are large and numerous, which results in the best mechanical properties of the specimen. When the pressure holding time is 100 s, the planar PTFE crystals are large and there are more of them, which results in the best mechanical properties of the specimen. (3) The reactivity of Al-rich Al/PTFE/TiH₂ specimens with TiH₂ the content of 10% under quasi-static compression is not significantly affected by the molding parameters.