Aluminum-lithium alloy prepared by a solid-state route applying an alternative fast sintering route based on induction heating

Abstract Al-Li alloys with different lithium contents were processed by mechanical alloying and sintered by an alternative route based on induction heating to keep the refined microstructure achieved by milling after sintering. The mechanical and microstructural features of samples sintered by a conventional route and fast induction heating were evaluated. Optical and TEM studies showed higher densification and better-refined microstructure retention after sintering using induction heating. Increased values of yield strength and hardness were obtained in the induction sintered alloys due to the porosity reduction complemented with finer microstructure.