Fig. 1 Schematic of semi-solid powder rolling process [1]

Fig. 2 Microstructure of semi-solid powder a, a strip prepared by semi-solid powder rolling b [1]. Arrow indicates the liquid phase

Fig. 3 Microstructures of the semi-solid powder rolled strip prepared under 555 °C/30 min at different locations: a the surface [1], b mid-thickness

Fig. 4 Microstructures of the post-treated strip sintered at different temperatures for 2 h under H2 atmosphere: 474 °C a, 492 °C b, 510 °C c, 520 °C d

Fig. 5 Relative density and microhardness of strips after sintering for 2 h at different temperatures

Fig. 6 Microstructures of strips sintered at 510 °C for different times in H2 atmosphere: 1 h a, 2 h b, 3 h c, 5 h d

Fig. 7 Relative density and microhardness of strips sintered at 510 °C for different times

Fig. 8 SEM of SSPR processed strips a, strips sintered at 474 °C for 2 h b, the average pore size under different conditions c. Arrows indicate the pores

Fig. 9 Porosity of the samples pre-sintered for 2 h at 510 °C and then cold compressed 30% a, 50% b, 60% c

Fig. 10 Microstructures of the samples pre-sintered for 2 h at 510 °C, then cold compressed 0% a, 30% b, 50% c, 60% d and then re-sintered at 528 °C for 2 h. Arrows indicate the deformation axis

Fig. 11 Relative density and microhardness of the samples pre-sintered for 2 h at 510 °C, then cold compressed 0% a, 30% b, 50% c, 60% d and then re-sintered at 528 °C for 2 h

Fig. 12 SEM of the samples pre-sintered for 2 h at 510 °C, then cold compressed 60% a, 50% b, 30% c, 0% d and then re-sintered at 528 °C for 2 h

Fig. 13 XRD patterns of the samples pre-sintered for 2 h at 510 °C, then cold compressed 0% a, 30% b, 50% c, 60% d and then re-sintered at 528 °C for 2 h

Fig. 14 Microstructure of the hot rolled strip: optical micrograph a, SEM image b, c represents the XRD patterns: hot rolled strip (1), semi-solid powder rolled strip (2). Arrows indicate the deformation axis

Fig. 15 Relative density of the processed alloy versus processing history