*3.2. Analytical Techniques*

The structure of the obtained materials was investigated using optical microscopy (Olympus GX-71, Tokyo, Japan) and scanning electron microscopy (Philips SEM-515, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA). A universal testing machine Instron 3369 was used for mechanical tensile testing of the obtained alloys. Three samples were tested for each condition. The density of the obtained alloys was estimated by a hydrostatic weighing method (using Archimedes' principle).

Samples were pre-polished on a circular grinding machine (Buehler, Lake Bluff, IL, USA) and then subjected to mechanical polishing. Samples were etched using a 5% HBF4 acid solution to identify the microstructure. Mechanical tensile tests are carried out with a tensile test machine Istron 3369 (Norwood, MA, USA). The samples were cut in the form of plates (length of the working part 25 mm, width 6 mm, thickness 2 mm, rounded radius 18 mm) using electroerosion cutting of aluminum alloy. Tensile testing are conducted at a rate of 0.2 mm/min until a fracture occurs. Test results were obtained in the form of "stress-strain" diagrams from which the values of yield strength, tensile strength and maximum elongation were found.
