Research Article
Saadallah S, Benaissa A, Bou
Abstract
The aim of the present work is dilatometric study, within the range from room temperature to 550°C, of two aluminum based sheets containing some alloying elements in different proportions. The level of the Mn concentration in sheet 1 is higher than that in the sheet 2. But, the Fe concentration in the latter sheet is important compared to that of former one. The different proportions of alloying elements could be the origin of the remarkable difference in the thermal expansion behavior of the two studied sheets. It is important to note that both sheets are anisotropic. The thermal expansion coefficient measured along the perpendicular direction to the rolling plane of the sheet 1 containing a considerable amount of Mn, as a function of temperature, is 3.5 times less than that of the sheet 2 containing a considerable amount of Fe. The observed weak thermal expansion coefficient in the case of the sheet 1 is explained by the strengthening of the interatomic bonds and the interaction forces. The use of complementary techniques of investigations such as Transmission electron Microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive (EDS) chemical analysis reveal the presence of thermally stable particles, especially, in sheet 1.