Book Review

Abstract

Currently available compaction-ready aluminium powders enable sintered preforms to be readily produced by the powder metallurgy route. Aluminium bearing materials with good sliding properties can be produced by sintering-in abrasion-resistant particles or by using alloy powders with homogeneously distributed lead additions. Reactively ground and mechanically alloyed granulates with dispersoid particles of oxides, carbides, and inter-metallic compounds provide high-temperature PM materials with improved properties. New techniques for powder production provide aluminium alloy powders with extraordinary metallurgical effects within the particles and controlled properties. The consolidation of rapidly solidified aluminium alloy powders into high-strength PM semiproducts has considerably enlarged the potential of aluminium powder metallurgy. The aims of numerous worldwide development projects in powder metallurgy are to improve conventional aluminium alloys and develop new alloys which cannot be produced by the . traditional melting route. PM/0253     

Amorphous Phase Formation Analysis of Rapidly Solidified CoCr Droplets

This paper investigates amorphous phase formation and rapid solidification characteristics of a CoCr alloy. High cooling rate and high undercooling-induced rapid solidification of the alloy was achieved by impulse atomization in helium atmosphere. Two atomization experiments were carried out to generate powders of a wide size range from liquid CoCr at two different temperatures. Amorphous fraction and kinetic crystallization properties of impulse atomized powders were systematically quantified by means of differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, different but complementary characterization tools were used to analyze the powders microstructures. The fraction of amorphous phase within the investigated powders is found to be promoted by high cooling rate or smaller powder size. The critical cooling rate for amorphous phase formation, which is influenced by the oxygen content in the melt, is found to be ~3 × 10⁴ K s^?1 and corresponds to a 160-µm-diameter powder atomized in helium. Hardness of the powders is found to follow a trend that is described by the Hall–Petch relation when a relatively high fraction of crystalline structures is present and decreases with the fraction of amorphous phase.     

Influence of powder characteristics on sintering behaviour and properties of PM Ti alloys produced from prealloyed powder and master alloy

Abstract

The use and development of titanium and titanium alloys have been strongly correlated to high technology industries where costs are not the most important aspect. Titanium could see its market grow by the application of lower cost and more efficient processing methods such as powder metallurgy. This work deals with the characterisation of two types of powders: commercial prealloyed powder and powder produced from master alloy combining mechanical milling and conventional blending to adjust the particle size. The characteristics of the powders, sintering behaviour and final properties of the parts indicate that the master alloy approach leads to better compressibility than the prealloyed powders and, therefore, to lower dimensional change during sintering. The most important result is that it is possible to obtain Ti alloys with properties similar to or better than alloys from prealloyed powders and to obtain homogeneous microstructures, which allows the composition to be adjusted to requirements.     

Influence of extrusion ratio and temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of 2024 aluminium alloy consolidated from nanocrystalline alloy powders via hot hydrostatic extrusion

Abstract

Nanocrystalline 2024 aluminium alloy powders with an average grain size less than 50 nm, prepared by a unique technique which combines rapid solidification and mechanical milling, were consolidated into bulk material under various technical conditions via hot hydrostatic extrusion and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the consolidated alloy were experimentally investigated. The influence of the two main technical parameters, extrusion ratio and temperature, on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the as extruded alloy is made clear and the reasons why these two parameters had such an influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy are also discussed. Furthermore, suggestions are given for rationalising the extrusion ratio and temperature for the consolidation of the nanocry stalline 2024 aluminium alloy powders via hot hydro static extrusion.     

PM processing of elemental and prealloyed 6061 aluminium alloy with and without common lubricants and sintering aids

Abstract

A comparison has been made between compaction, sintering, microstructural and mechanical properties of the 6061 aluminium alloy prepared via premixed elemental (EL) and prealloyed (PA) powders (as received and degassed) with and without additions of sintering aids and various solid and/or liquid lubricants. Both EL and PA powders were cold pressed at different pressures, ranging from 250 to 770 MPa, and sintered under vacuum in the range 580–640^°C for 30–120 min. and then under pure nitrogen atmosphere for comparison. Vacuum degassing of the PA powder provided better compressibility and thus higher green densities than those for the as received PA or the premixed EL powder compacts pressed at compaction pressures ≥340 MPa. Near full sintered densities of , ～98%TD were obtained for both EL and PA 6061 Al alloys. Degassed PA Al with 0·6 wt-% paraffin wax (PW) or with only 0·12 wt-%Pb addition as sintering aid and no lubricant, and premixed EL with only 0·12 wt-%Pb addition and no lubricant gave the best optimum properties. It became apparent that additions of some solid lubricants such as lithium stearate (LS) and acrawax to both the premixed EL and PA powders provided reasonable green densities, but had deleterious effect on sintered densities and microstructures, particularly under vacuum sintering. Heating data curves during the sintering cycle, revealed formation of both transient and persistent liquid phases for the EL and mainly supersolidus liquid phase sintering (SLPS) mechanism for the PA. Tensile properties of the degassed, vacuum or nitrogen sintered PA Al alloy in T6 condition were higher than those of the equivalent alloy prepared by EL mixing with the former giving a tensile strength of 330 MPa and 6–8% elongation to failure, which are similar to those of the commercial (wrought) 6061 Al alloys.     

Optimisation of mechanical milling process for production of AA 7075/(SiC or TiB2) composite powders

Abstract

The present work concerns the processing of composite powders based on 7075 aluminium alloy by mechanical milling. A premixed powder (Alumix 431D, Ecka Granules, Germany) was used as the matrix material, and two different ceramic reinforcements (SiC and TiB₂) were chosen as reinforcements. The main objective was to evaluate the effect of the content and addition method of the process control agent as well as the content and type of reinforcement on the microstructural and morphological evolutions of the powder particles during milling process and the as milled properties of the processed materials. Results showed that regardless of the starting composition, alloying took place through three stages, in which deformation, cold welding and fracturing of powder particles were the main mechanisms involved respectively. The mechanically milled composite powders showed a fine and homogenous distribution of reinforcement particles. A higher content of reinforcement resulted in a lower crystalline size for the milled powders (～18 nm for composite powders containing 15 vol.-% ceramic particles).     

Heat Treatment of Gas-Atomized Powders for Cold Spray Deposition

This communication demonstrates the efficacy of heat treatment on the improved deposition characteristics of aluminum alloy powders. A novel furnace was constructed for solutionizing of feedstock powders in an inert atmosphere while avoiding sintering. This furnace design achieved sufficiently high cooling rates to limit re-precipitation during powder cooling. Microscopy showed homogenization of the powder particle microstructures after heat treatment. Cold spray deposition efficiency with heat-treated powders substantially increased for the alloys AA2024, AA6061, and AA7075.     

On development of press and sinter Al–Ni–Mg powder metallurgy alloys

Abstract

The objective of this research was to initiate the development of powder metallurgy alloys based on the Al–Ni–Mg system. In doing so, binary (Al–Mg) and ternary (Al–Ni–Mg) blends were prepared, compacted and sintered using elemental and master alloy feedstock powders. Research began with fundamental studies on the sintering response of the base aluminium powder with additions of magnesium. This element proved essential to the development of a well sintered microstructure while promoting the formation of a small nodular phase that appeared to be AlN. In Al–Ni–Mg systems a well sintered structure comprised of α aluminium plus NiAl₃ was produced at the higher sintering temperatures investigated. Of these ternary alloys studied, Al–15Ni–1Mg exhibited mechanical properties that were comparable with existing commercial 'press and sinter' alloys. The processing, reaction sintering and tensile properties of this alloy were also found to be reproducible in an industrial production environment.     

添加镍包覆石墨对铁基固体自润滑复合材料性能的影响

研究了利用粉末冶金法制备添加镍包覆石墨的铁基固体自润滑复合材料的力学性能及摩擦学性能,结果表明:以Fe-Ni-Cu-Mo成分作为基体的含石墨材料中,当石墨含量为0.9%(质量分数)时其力学性能达到最佳值.添加镍包覆石墨复合材料的力学性能和摩擦学性能明显优于添加未包覆石墨的复合材料.随着镍包覆石墨含量的增加,复合材料的力学性能不断降低,摩擦系数也随之降低,磨损率呈现先降低后又逐渐升高的趋势,当镍包覆石墨含量为3.36%时磨损率降为最低,获得了良好的综合性能.所研制的添加镍包覆石墨的铁基固体自润滑复合材料已经在多家钢厂得到了应用.     

Characteristics of rapidly solidified Cu–10%Sn alloy powders produced by water jet cooled rotating disc atomisation

Abstract

In the present work, an experimental water jet cooled rotating disc centrifugal atomiser was designed and constructed and used to produce rapidly solidified Cu–10%Sn alloy powders. The characteristics of rapidly solidified Cu–10%Sn alloy powders have been investigated with respect to powder size and disc surface condition. Uncoated and ZrO₂ coated copper discs were used to investigate the effect of disc surface conditions on the microstructure and cooling rate of the powders. The produced powders appeared in the shape of sphere, rounded, ligament, irregular and flaky, depending on the particle size. The powders exhibited fine grained microstructure, cell size increased with increasing powder size and higher cooling rates were obtained using uncoated disc. The results indicated that cooling rates of 20 μm powder produced with uncoated and ZrO₂ material coated discs were estimated as 5·82×10⁵ and 1·44×10⁵ K s^?1 respectively.     

粉末冶金Fe-Ni-Mo低合金钢的烧结硬化性能

以Fe-1.75％Ni-0.5％Mo雾化低合金钢粉为基础粉末,加入2％Cu和0.6％C,在600MPa压力下模压成形,在1120℃烧结30 min,制备Fe-Ni-Mo低合金钢材料,测试和分析该合金钢的硬度和抗拉强度以及显微组织；并利用热模拟实验机研究冷却速率(0.5、1.0、2.5、5和10℃/s)对该合金组织和性能...     

Effect of carbon content,sintering temperature,density, and cooling rate upon properties of prealloyed Fe–1·5Mo powder

Abstract

Mixtures of prealloyed Fe–1·5Mo (Astaloy Mo) with and without additions of 0·5–1·2 wt-%C were prepared and their sintering, as well as their mechanical, properties investigated under different process conditions. It was found that carbon content, sintering temperature, and cooling rate had marked effect on physical and mechanical properties. Sintered density decreased with increase in carbon content and sintering temperature. On the other hand, UTS, TRS, and hardness values improved with up to 0·8 wt-%C addition, sintering temperature, and cooling rate. Percentage elongation decreased with increase in carbon content and cooling rate, but was higher for specimens sintered at higher temperatures. The as sintered microstructures consisted of either fine or coarse pearlite, upper or lower bainite, and their mixture depending on the carbon content and cooling rate. The heat treated mechanical properties showed some improvement for the specimens containing 0·5 and 0·8 wt-%C. It became evident that a variety of ternary low alloy steels consisting of Fe + 1·5Mo + 0·5–0·8 wt-%C can be produced and used in the as sintered or heat treated conditions for PM structural parts having good physical and mechanical properties as well as high dimensional accuracy with acceptable microstructures.     

喷射成形工艺参数及热挤压制度对8009耐热铝合金的组织及性能的影响

采用喷射成形方法制备了A1-8．5Fe-1．4v-1．7Si(8009)耐热铝合金，研究了喷射成形工艺参数及沉积坯件的热挤压工艺对材料的微观组织及性能的影响。结果表明：喷射成形工艺能够有效地抑制8009合金中粗大的富铁相的析出，获得均匀细小的组织；当喷射成形工艺参数选择适当时，沉积坯件具有良好的成形性与致密度，在随后的热挤压过程中，通过较低的挤压比即可使材料达到全致密。合金经过热挤压后，在室温及高温下均具有良好的力学性能。     

A Novel High Nitrogen Steel Powder Designed for Minimized Cr2N Precipitations

High nitrogen steels provide excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance but are prone to form precipitates which adversely affect the corrosion resistance and toughness. High nitrogen steel powders currently available in the market are not claimed to be precipitate free. It is critical to avoid these precipitates while retaining nitrogen in the dissolved form to realize the value of these powder alloys. However, retaining high level of dissolved nitrogen in steel powder during melt atomization process is very challenging. Instead, solid-state dissolution of nitrogen into the powder alloy followed by rapid cooling may provide a convenient approach to avoid precipitate formation compared to traditional melt processing. This study presents a solution treatment approach to achieve elevated dissolved nitrogen levels (~ 0.4 wt pct) in Fe–Mn–Cr powder alloy with negligible precipitation of nitrides. The influence of starting material, holding time, temperature and cooling rate on the resulting microstructure is presented. A fully austenite matrix with high dissolved nitrogen content resulted in powders with desired mechanical properties.

     

Effects of air atomisation,spray deposition and melt overflow techniques on microstructural features of Al–Fe–V–Si alloy

Abstract

Microstructural features of atomised powders, spray deposited preforms and melt overflow strips of 8009 series AlFeVSi alloy were investigated to reveal the microstructural evolution associated with the processing condition variations. X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to identify the crystal structures of dispersoid phases in the specimens. The primary intermetallic phase was characterised as bcc α-Al(Fe,V)Si having a lattice parameter in the range 12·51–12·53 Å, other phases are identified as icosahedral, Al₃Fe and Al₁₃(Fe,V)₄ by XRD. SEM was used to examine the morphological changes and quantitative element analysis to reveal the chemical composition of these phases in specimens. Various phase morphologies such as starlike, band shape and needlelike intermetallics were observed in these products, whereas the primary phase crystal structure is cubic and stable.     

Effect of Ultra Fast Cooling on the Alloy Cost Reduction of the X80 Pipeline Steel

The microstructures and mechanical properties of X80 pipeline steels produced by both novel ultra fast cooling and conventional‐accelerated continuous cooling modes are investigated. Results showed that different levels of Mo addition had a remarkable effect on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the investigated pipeline steels. The proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite formation is inhibited in the high‐Mo steel and acicular ferrite is obtained over a wide range of cooling rates, whereas the dominant acicular ferrite microstructure can only be obtained when the cooling rates reach up to 5 C s^?1. Very similar microstructures and mechanical properties are obtained in the low‐Mo steel produced with ultra fast cooling and in the high‐Mo steel produced by the conventional‐accelerated continuous cooling. It was proved by simulation and industrial trials that high‐strength low‐alloy steels such as pipeline steels, can be produced using the novel ultra fast cooling which also reduce alloy cost.

     

Some Mechanical Properties of Powder-Forged Iron/Alloy Mixtures

Abstract

An investigation was made of the feasibility of producing alloy forgings (nominal composition Fe–0·5C–0·6% Mn), from a powder prepared by mixing the alloying additions with iron powder. The carbon was added as microcrystalline graphite and the manganese as elemental powder and as ferro-manganese powder. Additions of copper and ammonium chloride powders were also made for the purpose of assisting the manganese to alloy with the iron. The copper addition improved the tensile strength but lowered the ductility. The ammonium chloride had little effect except for an apparent lowering of hardness. It was found that useful mechanical properties could be obtained in forgings made from mixtures of the alloying ingredients.     

Sintering behaviour of Al-6061 powder produced by rapid solidification process

Abstract

Complex aluminium alloy components fabricated by powder metallurgy (P/M) offer the promise of a low cost and high strength-to-weight ratio, which meets the demands of the automotive sector. This paper describes the die compaction and sintering response of an atomised Al-6061 alloy powder containing Mg and Si produced by rapid solidification. A design of experiments is used involving three levels for each of the die compaction pressure, sintering temperature, peak temperature hold time and heating rate. Three trials were used to obtain the optimum press sinter processing conditions. Besides the mechanical properties, phase transformation and microstructure are investigated. Supplemental insight is gained through thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and SEM with energy dispersive spectroscopy. Analysis of variation is used to quantify the contribution of each design variable to the mechanical properties.     

Diary

Abstract

The addition of amorphous Fe–Si–B particles to Fe powder increases the shrinkage of sintered components resulting in higher densification rates. Consequently, several research groups worldwide have studied the properties of such systems in an attempt to produce superior structural alloys. In the present work, Fe₇₅Si₁₀B₁₅ ribbons obtained by melt spinning were milled in a high energy Spex mill for times varying from 2 to 32 h. The resulting powders were characterised by differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the amorphous characteristics of the ribbons persisted after the milling process. Next, samples consisting of a mixture of Fe powder and 4 wt-% milled amorphous phase were uniaxially pressed and sintered following a series of thermal cycles. High temperature microstructures were obtained for compacts subjected to rapid cooling from the sintering temperature. The results of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy revealed substantial precipitation of fine Fe₂B particles before α → γ allotropic transformation. In addition, an oxide phase was observed in the interface between Fe and the additive particles. Preliminary analysis suggested that the oxide particles can be easily reduced by adding small amounts of carbon to the system. PM/0765     

Phase transformation,structural evolution and mechanical property of nanostructured FeAl as a result of mechanical alloying

Objective of the work was to synthesize nanostructured FeAl alloy powder by mechanical alloying (MEA). The work concentrated on synthesis, characterization, structural and mechanical properties of the alloy. Nanostructured FeAl intermetallics were prepared directly by MEA in a high energy rate ball mill. Milling was performed under toluene solution to avoid contamination from the milling media and atmosphere. Mixtures of elemental Fe and Al were progressively transformed into a partially disordered solid solution with an average composition of Fe—50 at % Al. Phase transformation, structural changes, morphology, particle size measurement and chemical composition during MEA were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) respectively. Vickers micro hardness (VMH) indentation tests were performed on the powders. XRD and SEM studies revealed the alloying of elemental powders as well as transition to nanostructured alloy, crystallite size of 18 nm was obtained after 28 hours of milling. Expansion/contraction in lattice parameter accompanied by reduction in crystallite size occurs during transition to nanostructured alloy. Longer milling duration introduces ordering in the alloyed powders as proved by the presence of superlattice reflection. Elemental and alloyed phase coexist while hardness increased during MEA.