Effect of aluminum particle size on the volume changes experienced by compacts from a mixture of aluminum and copper powders during liquid-phase sintering

Conclusions The process of liquid-phase sintering of aluminum-copper powder compacts comprises two main stages — growth and shrinkage. Growth is due to diffusion of copper atoms from the liquid phase into the solid, with the formation of liquid interlayers at the grain and subgrain boundaries. Compacts from powder mixtures containing large aluminum particles exhibit increased growth in the first stage of sintering, which may be due to nonuniform reaction of the liquid phase on the peripheries of the particles, resulting in the appearance of local strains and further separation of the solid-phase particles.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 9(285), pp. 23–27, Septmeber, 1986.     

Volume changes experienced by Al-Zn compacts during liquid-phase sintering

Conclusions The sintering of compacts from aluminum powders with zinc additions in the presence of a liquid phase is accompanied by their volume growth and a corresponding increase in their porosity. The volume growth of compacts from Al-Zn powder mixtures during liquid-phase sintering is mainly due to the Kirkendall effect, which manifests itself during the formation of a solid solution on the aluminum particles as a result of the diffusion of zinc atoms from the melt to the particles preceding their dissolution in the liquid phase. In general, the porosity of sintered compacts is satisfactorily described by Eq. (1). When, however, the zinc content of a compact does not exceed its limit of solid-phase solubility in aluminum at the sintering temperature, the process of dissolution of aluminum in the melt may be ignored. In such a case the end porosity of compacts is described by Eq. (2) with a correction for shrinkage due to a regrouping of particles. The extent to which the volume of compacts from an Al-Zn powder mixture grows during sintering increases with increasing mean aluminum powder particle size.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 10 (238), pp. 11–16, October, 1982.     

粉末冶金结合热轧制备高硼铝合金组织与性能研究

采用粉末冶金结合热轧成形工艺制备含硼质量分数为7%与12%的中子屏蔽用高硼铝合金（Al-7% B与Al-12% B），并对不同工艺条件下铝硼合金的组织与性能进行研究。结果表明:在机械球磨5 min+放电等离子烧结条件下，Al-7% B合金中AlB₂体积分数高于Al-12% B合金，且分布更加均匀。放电等离子烧结后进行热轧有利于提高试样的相对密度，减少硼粉团聚。在450℃固溶处理2 h，Al-7% B合金试样的拉伸强度和屈服强度达到峰值，分别为145.7 MPa和99.4 MPa。由10B面密度理论计算结果可知，厚度相近时，热轧后高硼铝合金10B面密度均可达到BoralTM水平。     

OBSERVATIONS ON THE SINTERING OF COMPACTSFROM A MIXTURE OF IRON AND COPPER POWDERS

Abstract

Three grades of iron powder-an atomized steel powder, a sponge iron powder reduced from magnetite with carbon, and a powder reduced from mill scale with hydrogen were mixed with 3% of copper powder and pressed into compacts. The diametral dimensional changes of the compacts during sintering below and above the melting point of copper were measured, their microstructures examined, and both related to the characteristics of the powders, particularly their specific surface. During sintering below the melting point of copper, compacts of all three powders shrank. Micrographic examination showed that the copper is transported by solid-state diffusion along the surfacesand grain boundaries of the iron powder particles. During sintering above the melting point of copper, compacts of the atomized and the MH-100 sponge iron powders grew while those of the hydrogen reduced mill-scale powder shrank. This phenomenon is related to the different mode of penetration of liquid copper in the compacts from the three powders, observed in the microstructures of the compacts.     

INFLUENCE OF TIN POWDER CHARACTERISTICS ON THE SINTERING OF IRON-TIN-COPPER POWDER COMPACTS

Abstract

In view of increasing industrial interest in the use of tin additions as an aid to the sintering of iron-based powder compacts, an examination has been made of the influence of the characteristics of the tin powder on sintering performance.

The effect of additions of narrow size-range fractions of atomized tin powder on the dimensional changes and tensile properties obtained on sintering Fe-Sn-Cu compacts made with –100 mesh (–152 μm) or – 300 mesh (– 53 μm) sponge iron and – 300 mesh (– 53 μm) atomized copper powders has been determined. The compacts contained tin and copper in the ratio 2:3. The narrow size fractions were separated from – 300 mesh tin powder by air elutriation. It was found that the use of coarse tin powder reduced the tensile strength of – 300 mesh iron-based Fe–1% Sn–1 ½% Cu compacts, but had no influence when this mixture was based on –100 mesh iron powder, or when the mixture composition was Fe–2% Sn–3% Cu. The effects have been examined in relation to the sintering mechanism by scanning electron microscopy and by X-ray microanalysis.     

IRON-COPPER-TIN SINTERED COMPACTS

Abstract

A wide range of copper and tin powder additions to iron powder sintered compacts hasbeen studied. From mechanical-property tests it has been shown that when using sinteririg temperatures of 900–1100°C in nitrogen/10% hydrogen atmospheres there is an optimum copper: tin ratio of 15:2. The mechanical properties obtained from compacts pressed from iron mixed with 4% copper+tin in this ratio and sintered at 900°C were similar to those obtained from iron ?l0% copper powder compacts sintered at 1100°C. Moreover, the iron-copper-tin components showed improved dimensional accuracy.

In a further series of experiments, it was shown that tin additions to iron-copper alloy compacts increased the solubility of iron in the liquid phase at the sintering temperature and simultaneously decreased the rate of diffusion of copper into the iron particles. At the same time, tin improved the wettability of the liquid, reducing its surface tension and allowing it to disperse more completely throughout the matrix. The mechanical properties of compacts containing larger amounts of tin were decreased by the presence of brittle compounds, although the sintering rate was increased. It is concluded that the optimum properties of iron-copper-tin compacts are obtained by making correct additions of copper and tin to the iron powder and giving careful consideration to the sintering atmosphere.     

Sintering of aluminum with additions of nickel

The sintering of aluminum with substantial additions of nickel was investigated. It was determined that within the temperature range (700–750°C) and concentration range (10–17.5 at. % Ni) it was possible by the sintering of pressed powder compacts to obtain alloys with densities approaching the theoretical. The hardness and tensile strength of the alloys increased and the ductility decreased with increasing nickel concentration and increasing temperature. The curves of yield, tensile strength, and ductility vs nickel concentration exhibited maxima.     

Sintering of Titanium in Vacuum by Microwave Radiation

The effectiveness of microwave (MW) sintering has been demonstrated on many ceramic systems, a number of metallic systems, and metal-ceramic composites, but remains ambiguous for Ti powder materials. This work presents a detailed comparative study of MW and conventional sintering of Ti powder compacts in vacuum. It is shown that MW radiation is effective in heating Ti powder compacts with the assistance of MW susceptors; it delivered an average heating rate of 34 K/min (34 °C/min), compared to 4 K/min (4 °C/min) by conventional vacuum heating in an alumina-tube furnace. Microwave radiation resulted in similar densification with well-developed sinter bonds. However, MW-sintered samples showed higher bulk hardness, a harder surface shell, and coarser grains. The difference in hardness is attributed to the difference in the oxygen content, supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. The mechanisms of MW heating for metal powder compacts are discussed in the context of the sintering of Ti powder materials and attributed to three combined effects. These include heat radiation from the MW susceptors at low temperatures, enhanced MW absorption due to the transformation of the TiO₂ film on each Ti powder particle to oxygen-deficient Ti oxides, which are MW absorbers; and the volumetric heating of Ti powder particles by eddy currents.     

On the swelling of silver powder during sintering

Silver powder compacts may suffer an overall expansion during sintering. A simultaneous analysis of dimensional changes, mass loss and pore closing in the course of sintering showed that volume change results from the competition between classical sintering phenomena inducing densification and material creeping under stresses caused by internal gas pressure, which induces swelling. The internal gas includes air trapped during pressing and oxygen released from particle surface inside the pores that closed during pressing or sintering. This swelling phenomenon is particularly strong with powders with large specific surface area and compacts with high green density. It is less effective during fast sintering, as observed during direct induction heating experiments. Electrical conductivity is strongly affected by swelling. Powder compacts may exhibit a lower conductivity after sintering when interparticle bonding does not balance the density decrease occurring during sintering.     

Production and properties of brass-base P/M constructional materials. A review

Conclusions The best processing properties are exhibited by brass powders manufactured by the diffusional impregnation technique, using a zinc powder, brass swarf, or a copper-zinc master alloy as a point source. However, as this is a very labor-intensive process, normally preference should be given to melt atomization as a method of manufacture of brass powders. Brass P/M parts produced by the conventional method consisting of pressing a powder and sintering the resultant compacts have porosities of not less than 7–10%, and consequently this method is not widely used for the production of constructional brass parts. The sintering of compacts from copper and copper-zinc master alloy powders gives more stable zinc contents compared with the sintering of compacts from copper and zinc powders; the greatest stability of chemical composition is exhibited by sintered compacts from a homogenized brass powder. The formation of diffusional porosity accompanying the evaporation of zinc may be prevented by performing sintering in the presence of a liquid phase (which appears in the presence of a phosphorus or lead addition), saturating the sintering atmosphere with zinc vapor, and adding carbonates or halides of alkali and rare-earth metals to starting powders. The mechanical properties of materials can be markedly improved by eliminating their porosity. This may be achieved by subjecting porous preforms to hot forging, which enables brass P/M parts to be obtained whose mechanical properties are comparable to those of cast parts.Translated from Eoroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 3(255), pp. 56–64, March, 1984.     

Enhanced Sintering Kinetics in Aluminum Alloy Powder Consolidated Using DC Electric Fields

Direct current (DC) electric currents were applied during sintering of aluminum alloy (AA5083) green powder compacts and it was found that the kinetics of sintering were greatly enhanced compared to samples processed without a field. In situ sintering kinetics during pressure-less sintering employing electric field strengths and amperages ranging from 0 to 56 V/cm and 0 to 3 A were quantified using digital image correlation. It was found that the application of a DC field during sintering results in a discontinuous change in volume at a critical temperature along with a transition in electrical properties of the compact from insulating to conductive. This effect is similar to the phenomena observed in the flash sintering process currently being actively researched for ceramic powder processing. The temperature at which the flash event occurs was found to be field strength dependent and doubling the field strength was found to decrease the flash temperature by 25 pct. Joule heating of the specimen was measured using thermal imaging and it was found to not contribute enough additional thermal energy to account for the substantially increased sintering rates observed in specimens processed using electric fields.

     

Densification of Al-2024 and Al-2024/Al2O3 Powders by Conventional P/M Route and ECAP: A Comparative Study

In this study, mechanically alloyed Al-2024 and Al-2024/Al₂O₃ powders are densified by conventional sintering and by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) with and without back pressure. The powder was encapsulated in an aluminium can for consolidation through ECAP. The properties obtained in the compacts by conventional sintering route and by ECAP are compared. The effect of conventional sintering and ECAP on consolidation behaviour of powder, microstructure, density and hardness is discussed. Room temperature back pressure aided ECAP results in nearly full denser (97?% of its theoretical density) compact at room temperature. Nano Indentation technique was used to determine the modulus of the consolidated compacts.     

Influence of Lubricants on Dimensional Changes and Mechanical Properties of Sintered Ferrous Compacts

Abstract

The influence of admixed zinc stéarate on the shrinkage of uniaxially pressed iron powder compacts has been studied. For pressing conditions which caused inhibition of compaction the removal of the stéarate during sintering produced an increase in shrinkage parallel to the pressing axis and in direct proportion to lubricant content. Additions of stearic acid (varying particle size), zinc stearate, lithium stearate, stearamide, and Cosmic 64 wax were used to investigate the influence of lubricant on mechanical properties of green and sintered iron powder compacts. Green strength was reduced relative to unlubricated material only by lubricants whose physical and chemical properties enabled them to produce and maintain extensive interparticle films during pressing. Vapour from the rapid initial decomposition of lubricants which reduced green strength could have a deleterious physical influence on the tensile strength of dewaxed or sintered Fe compacts. Decomposing lubricants also produced undesirable chemical effects. These arose from reactions between lubricant decomposition products and the matrix or by these products interfering with reactions between matrix and sintering atmosphere.     

Interrelationship between the properties of powders,the pressing and sintering conditions,and the structure of porous niobium III. The porous structure of material of sintered niobium powders

Conclusions In the initial stage of sintering of high-porosity compacts of niobium powder the average pore size increases, the fine pores disappear, and coarser pores than in the original compacts appear.There is a linear relationship between average pore radius and the total volume of pores for similar sintering conditions.The relationship between open and closed porosity after sintering is determined completely by the total porosity and does not depend upon sintering conditions.In sintering of high porosity specimens of dispersed niobium powders zonal isolation of the particles occurs.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 7(331), pp. 23–28, July, 1990.     

Swelling during sintering of titanium alloys based on titanium hydride powder

Abstract

Compacts were prepared by pressing titanium and titanium hydride powders mixed with nickel powder and sintering under vacuum. Severe swelling was observed only for compacts based on TiH₂ powder. Pressure changes in the vacuum furnace, dilatometry results and mass loss data all indicate that dehydrogenation of TiH₂ powder compacts occurs at lower temperature than any significant sintering. Swelling appears to have been caused by a contaminant in the TiH₂ powder rather than hydrogen. The onset of severe swelling during heating was associated with the formation of liquid phase as the solidus was crossed. However, some swelling appears to take place under solid state sintering conditions. Various results indicate that the mechanism of swelling is high gas pressure within closed pores. Large pores appear to form by breakage of ligaments between small pores followed by opening of the pore. It appears that the use of (uncontaminated) TiH₂ powder in place of Ti powder would allow the benefit of lower green porosity to be retained during sintering to achieve low sintered porosity.     

SINTERING KINETICS OF OXIDE-FILMCOATED COPPER POWDER

Abstract

The sintering kinetics of pure copper powder and of copper powder coated with a critical oxide (CU₂O) film thickness (～,500Å), has been studied by following the densification of the compacts as a function of temperature and time in pure dry hydrogen and in vacuum. The activation energy for the sintering of pure copper powder in hydrogen was 55,000 cal/mole, suggesting that the volume self-diffusion mechanism predominates during the sintering process. In the case of the oxide-coated powder the corresponding value was 37,000 cal/mole. The high rate of sintering of the coated powder in hydrogen and in vacuum is explained in terms of an activated sintering mechanism.     

STUDIES OF THE SINTERING AND HOMOGENIZATION OF NICKEL-COPPER COMPACTS

Abstract

Studies are described of the progress of sintering and alloying in compacts of similar compositions made from nickel-coated copper, copper-coated nickel, and mixed nickel and copper powders. Density losses observed in the early stages of sintering were lower in magnitude and were more quickly recovered in the case of the composite powder compacts. Alloying by diffusion at both 1900 and 2200°F (1040 and 1205°C) progressed most rapidly in compacts prepared from nickel-coated copper powders, and the probable reasons for this observation are discussed in detail. Electrical resistivity was used to follow homogenization of the compacts, and samples were rendered nearly 100% dense by cold working and annealing before making resistivity measurements. Resistivity / sintering-time curves for dense specimens showed no maxima of the type reported by earlier investigators for porous compacts, which were attributed to alloying effects.     

Dilatometric analysis of thermal debinding of injection moulded iron compacts

Abstract

The less than desired tolerance control of powder injection moulded compacts is a result of inconsistent dimensional changes in the compacts accumulated during moulding, debinding, and sintering. This study investigated the in situ length changes and their causes during thermal debinding on compacts which have been solvent debound. The dilatometric analysis showed that the specimen shrank in the early stage between 250 and 370°C, not because of sintering, but through the loss of N, C, and O in the carbonyl iron powder. At temperatures between 370 and 450°C, the specimen expanded owing to the carburisation of the iron powder. The length change was also influenced by the heating rate, debinding atmosphere, and the amount of the backbone binder. These dilatometric results are helpful in establishing the guidelines in designing binder compositions and debinding schedules.     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE RADIAL AND AXIAL SHRINKAGE IN SOFT-METAL POWDER COMPACTS

Abstract

The variables affecting the radial: axial (R/A) shrinkage ratio in copper-powder compacts have been investigated. The value of R/A is linearly dependent on compacting pressure, green density, and sintering temperature, and also increases with decrease in the particle size of the powder. The observed variation of R/A is attributed to the differences in density in the green compacts, which result in anisotropic stresses in sintering. Surface-tension forces or residual stresses introduced during compaction cannot alone be regarded as the main driving forces responsible for shrinkage; anisotropic stresses also play an important role in the densification of metal-powder compacts. By proper control of these variables, parts can be produced from the compacts to close dimensional tolerances.     

Fe-Cu及Fe-Cu-C合金的烧结特性

对还原铁粉与铜粉、电解铁粉与铜粉的混合粉压坯的烧结特性进行了研究,探讨了在不同烧结温度下压坯尺寸的变化规律和碳对压坯异常膨胀的抑制作用。表明,不论还原铁粉还是电解铁粉与铜粉的混合压坯,烧结时均出现异常膨胀现象,而含铜约8%(Wt)时膨胀量最大。添加碳能抑制铗和铜的互扩散,从而抑制烧结Fe-Cu合金的异常膨胀,抑制效应随含碳量增加而增大。