THE POWDER METALLURGY OF RUTHENIUM

Abstract

An investigation of the powder metallurgy of ruthenium is described, from the reduction of ammonium ruthenium chloride to the working of sintered compacts. The powder properties measured were specific surface area, by a simplified BET method, and tap density. The dependence of these properties on the conditions of reduction has been determined. The surface area of powders varies from 1 to 10 m²/g in the temperature-of-reduction range 700-350°C. The tap density is also variable (1–3 g/c.c.) and is generally related to the surface area. The effects of compacting pressure and temperature on sintering are described, the progress of sintering being observed by measurements of the “open” and “closed” porosity present in samples. Compact densities up to 95% of theoretical can be obtained by sintering at 1500°C. The selection of powder properties and compacting pressures to be used in the production, by vacuum sintering at 1500°C, of high-density compacts for working, is governed by the necessity to maintain open porosity during the heating cycle up to at least 1200°C, as considerable gas evolution occurs at this temperature; at the same time it is essential that good densification shall have occurred even at this stage. These conditions can be met by using powder with a surface area of 2–5 m²/g and compacting pressures in the range 0·5–25 tons/in ².

Observations on the hot working of sintered compacts indicate that ease of working is related to the surface area of the powder.     

Effect of MnS powder additions and vibratory ball peening on corrosion resistance of sintered 316LSC stainless steels

Abstract

As sintered parts are to be machined after sintering, the MnS powder is usually added to improve the machinability. Vibratory ball peening is used for deburring and improving the surface finish of sintered components in local PM industries. The effect of the MnS powder content and vibratory ball peening on the corrosion resistance of the sintered 316LSC alloys was investigated. Experimental results show that the addition of MnS powder slightly decreases the sintered density. The weight loss rate of the sintered specimens immersed in the 10%FeCl₃ corrosion test solution increases slightly with increas- ing MnS content, but decreases with increasing sintering temperature. Vibratory ball peening effec- tively decreases the weight loss rate of the sintered stainless steels. The chromium atoms actively migrate across the phase boundary and diffuse into the MnS particles during sintering. This intensive chromium diffusion affects the corrosion performance of the sintered alloys with MnS added. The surface morphology of the as sintered and the ball peened specimens before and after the corrosion test were studied with a SEM.     

THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HOT-RECOMPACTED IRON-NICKEL SINTERED ALLOYS

Abstract

Powder-metallurgy components which are to withstand high dynamic stress are frequently required to possess both high strength and great toughness. This combination of properties can best be achieved by increasing the density of the sintered component and one method of doing so is bot pressing.

This paper deals with the mechanical properties of sintered iron–nickel alloys produced by hot compacting in six stages, as follows:

(1) Preparation of the powder mix.

(2) Production of compacts under a pressure of 8 Mp/cm²

(3) Heating the compacts to 1000°C (1275 K).

(4) Re-pressing the hot compacts in a die heated to 300°C (575 K).

(5) Cooling in air.

(6) Sintering at optimum temperature and time under optimum furnace conditions.

The investigation covered the dependence of tensile strength, elongation at fracture, and Brinell hardness of alloys with Ni contents of 1–10% on the sintering temperature and time, on the furnace conditions, and on raw-material variables.

It was found that Fe–Ni powder-metallurgy parts with a maximum tensile strength of ～60 kp/cm² could be produced. The Brinell hardness reached 190 kp/mm² with 10% Ni content. Elongation at fracture was in the region of 45% with 1% Ni and remained comparatively satisfactory even with high Ni contents if very pure raw materials were used. Powder-metallurgy materials with a tensile strength of 60 kp/cm² and an elongation at fracture of 17% can be obtained by the process.     

The Effect of Cooling Rate on the Strength of Sintered Fe—Cu Compacts

Abstract

The effect of cooling rate from the sintering temperature upon the tensile strength of compacts from a mixture of iron and copper powder was investigated. The compacts were pressed at 450 and 390 MPa and sintered in hydrogen at 1120°C for 40 min. The copper content of the compacts varied from 0 to 12%. For alloys with Cu content >4% the tensile strength was found to be strongly dependent upon the cooling rate in the temperature range between 850 and 600°C, with rapidly cooled specimens being considerably stronger. In specimens with 8%Cu the tensile strength increased from 206 to 343 MPa when the cooling rate was increased from 10 to 200 degC min^?1. In specimens with 2%Cu cooling rates above and below 600 degC min^?1 appear to influence the tensile strength. Possible explanations for the observed effects of cooling rate upon tensile strength in sintered Fe–Cu alloys are discussed.     

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.     

HIGH-STRENGTH SINTERED IRON-BASE ALLOYS BY USING TRANSITION METAL CARBIDES

Abstract

A simple method of producing alloy steels by mixing, pressing, and sintering iron powder with carbides of transition metals is described. The carbides must have a high carbon content and be soluble in iron. These characteristics are found in the carbides of chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, and vanadium. Tensile strengths of ～800 N/mm² have been achieved in annealed specimens having carbide additions of 1–12 wt.-%, depending on the carbide. The additions produce steels with partly air-hardening properties.

The effects of concentration and particle size of the carbides, sintered density, sintering conditions, and cooling rate on mechanical properties have been determined. The alloys are not very sensitive to the sintering atmosphere. The effect of heat-treatment on the mechanical properties of Fe-Cr₃C₂ alloys is reported. A tensile strength >1300 N/mm² was observed with 4 wt.-% Cr₃C₂. Dilatometric measurements were conducted with different carbide concentrations and heating conditions to study the sintering process. The important process of homogenization was investigated by electron microprobe analysis.     

THE PREPARATION AND SOME PROPERTIES OF CHROMIC OXIDE-CHROMIUM CERMETS MADE BY PARTIAL REDUCTION OF THE OXIDE

Abstract

Compacts of chromic oxide/carbon mixtures have been sintered in vacuum to produce oxide-metal cermets. The effect of carbon addition, type of carbon, purity of oxide, compacting pressure, and sintering temperature on the green and sintered density has been studied, and this has been supplemented by tests of hardness and compressive strength.

Considerable densification can be attained by a small addition of carbon to the powder mixture, and this is accompanied by an increase in compressive strength to 20 tons/in², compared with 3 tons/in² for the pure oxide sintered to the same temperature.     

Synthesis and properties of Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy strips prepared via hot densification rolling of powder preforms

Abstract

Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy strips were successfully prepared by a powder metallurgy route consisting of preparing powder preforms from premixed Cu, Al and Ni powders by cold compaction, stepwise sintering in the range 873–1273 K, followed by unsheathed multipass hot rolling at 1273 K in protective atmosphere. The densification behaviour of the sintered powder preforms during hot rolling has been discussed. Homogenisation of the hot rolled strips was carried out at 1173 K for 4 h. It has been shown that the finished Cu–Al–Ni alloy strip consisted of self-accommodated plates ofβ' and γ' martensites together with a small amount of nanocrystalline Cu₉Al₄ phase. The finished hot rolled Cu–Al–Ni strips had fracture strength of 476 MPa, coupled with 2·5% elongation. The shape memory tests showed almost 100% recovery after 10 thermomechanical cycles in the hot rolled strips at 1 and 2% applied prestrain.     

THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME SINTERED MARAGING STEELS

Abstract

Maraging steels based on 18 and 12% nickel, and containing cobalt, molybdenum, silicon, copper, chromium, titanium, and aluminium in various proportions, were prepared in sintered form under varied processing conditions. The mechanical properties of the steels have been examined with particular reference to the effects of: (1) composition; (2) degree of shrinkage; (3) atmosphere, time, and temperature of sintering; and (4) compacting pressure. The influence of the type of iron-powder base was also studied.

The results demonstrate the possibility of producing, in the sintered and maraged condition and with only slight shrinkage on sintering, tensile strengths of the order of 95–110 kgf mm^?2 (60–70 tonf in^?2). Two compositions appear promising for further development as high-strength materials, and another to provide enhanced ductility. In all cases impact properties are similar to those characteristic of conventional sintered steels.     

THE INFLUENCE OF MATRIX IMPURITY CONTENT AND ATMOSPHERE ON THE MOVEMENT OF ALUMINA PARTICLES IN NICKEL-ALUMINA ALLOYS

Abstract

Specimens containing 2 wt.-% alumina as a disperse phase and whose matrices consisted of either pure nickel or nickel + 1 wt.-% iron have been produced by powder-metallurgy techniques and subsequently worked to form thin sheets. The sheets were annealed in the range 1380–1420°C, under oxygen partial pressures in the range 5 × 10^–11 to 10^–18 atm, for times between 15 and 1200 min.

Metallographic examination shows that the particles do not grow in size but that they move to fill the grain boundaries and eventually to form large clumps at grain-boundary corners. The particle movement is suppressed by the control of oxygen partial pressure and/or the addition of iron to the matrix. A tentative mechanism to explain this movement has been put forward, based on the flow of nickel atoms round the particles, resulting in particle movement in the contrary direction.

Further experiments, on wires of nickel matrix containing 1 wt.-% additions of iron, cobalt, chromium, or copper, but without the disperse phase, have shed further light on the way in which nickel atoms can move in these environmental conditions.     

Sintering and tribological properties of lead-free bronze alloy for friction materials

Abstract

A lead-free bronze alloy powder with a dispersed sulphide solid lubricant phase has been produced by atomisation as a substitute for lead bronze friction materials. The powder has been processed to produce a bronze/steel bimetal strip by a sinter/roll/sinter process route, via both solid state and liquid phase sintering. Friction properties of the developed materials and a sintered bronze were compared in pin-on-disc tests; the Cu–Sn–S material shows excellent properties, equivalent to those of a lead bronze, and is being assessed for use in high pressure bushes.     

Effect of porosity content on composition of W/ZrC composites produced by displacive compensation of porosity (DCP) method

Abstract

Tungsten based composites such as W/Cu have successfully been used in high temperature environments. In order to reduce the weight and improve their erosion resistance, W/ZrC composite has already been developed via displacive compensation of porosity method by Dickerson et al. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of preform porosity on the composition of final composite. For this purpose, a mixture of tungsten carbide powder and PVA was cold isostatic pressed to make a porous tungsten carbide preform. The porous perform was debinded for 14·4×10³ s at 673 K and sintered for 14·4×10³ s at 1673 K. The sintered perform was then infiltrated by molten Zr₂Cu at 1573 K for 25·2×10³ s. The cross-section of infiltrated specimens was studied using scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive spectroscope analyser as well as X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the amount of tungsten and zirconium carbide phases in final composite increased as the porosity of WC preform increased. The relative density of W/ZrC composite reduced with increasing initial porosity of sintered preform.     

Hot forging of Ti–6Al–4V alloy preforms produced by spark plasma sintering of powders

Abstract

Powder preform forging is a technology that comprises the preparation of near net shape preforms through powder metallurgy and a subsequent hot forging in order to obtain the desired final shape. In this work, two Ti–6Al–4V powder preforms were sintered through spark plasma sintering (SPS) and then hot compressed in a horizontal dilatometer. Varying the temperature of the process, two full density preforms having different microstructures were produced: sintering at 950°C, a plate-like α was obtained, whereas sintering at 1050°C, an acicular α was obtained. The behaviour of the preforms under hot forging has been studied through hot compression tests carried out in a quenching and deformation dilatometer in a range of temperature and strain rates typically used in hot forging this alloy (850–1050°C, 0·01–1 s^?1). Hot workability has been evaluated by measuring the stresses required for deformation and by analysing both the stress–strain curves recorded during testing and the microstructures after deformation. The main microstructural phenomena occurring during hot compression were individuated. The best conditions for the hot forging operation of SPS preform are temperatures above β transus, where the materials are deformed in a regime of dynamic recrystallisation, at every strain rate.     

OPTIMIZATION OF PROPERTIES OF POWDERED IRON AND STAINLESS-STEEL PARTS BY STATISTICAL DESIGN AND COMPUTER ANALYSIS

Abstract

A statistically designed experiment was formulated to study the effect of several major powder variables on the strength properties of porous iron and stainless-steel parts. The resulting data were analysed by means of a suitable computer programme to develop individual response equations relating the chosen dependent variables with selected independent variables. Computer analysis of the data and the optimization techniques adopted led to an improvement of ～50% in the strength of sintered parts by comparison with those made by conventional processes. A certain set of powder properties and process variables resulted in a tensile strength of 170 MN/m², 11.5% elongation, and very low dimensional change in a sintered iron sample with 25% porosity. In a 316L stainless-steel part with 25% porosity, a tensile strength of 435 MN/m², 0.2% yield strength of 269 MN/m², and 12.6% elongation were reached–values far above those that can be obtained without the benefit of statistical design.     

Damping Capacity and Mechanical Properties of Sintered Fe—Cr—Mo High-Damping Alloys

Abstract

The damping capacity and mechanical properties of ferromagnetic porous sintered specimens having a composition within the range iron plus 0–16%Cr and 0–4%Mo have been examined. Damping capacity and the mechanism of damping are discussed with respect to the effect of porosity and the stress concentration around each pore under the influence of an applied vibrational stress. Maximum damping capacity was obtained with a composition of Fe–16Cr–2%Mo, vacuum-sintered at 1200°C for 120 min at a pressure of 2·66 Pa (2 × 10^?5 torr).     

SOME MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SAE 1045 STEEL JOINTS BONDED WITH SINTERED COMPACTS

Abstract

The physical and mechanical properties of plain steel (SAE 1045) butt joints, bonded with a sintered alloy as a filler material, are described. Sintered alloys were made from two types of iron powders–electrolytic and Swedish sponge– with various additions ranging from 7 to 20 wt.-% of an electrolytic copper powder, a prealloyed bronze powder (90% Cu+ 10% Sn), and a mechanically mixed elemental bronze powder.

The results showed that the tensile strength was not reduced as drastically as that of the copper-brazed joints, when the thickness of the bonding material (sintered alloy) was increased. The highest bond strength in tensile and fatigue testing was obtained with the sintered alloys comprising iron powder and 10 wt.-% pre alloyed bronze powder. The results indicate that there is a practical possibility of brazing steel using sintered compact as a filler material under a neutral or a reducing atmosphere.     

Spark plasma sintering of cryomilled copper powder

Abstract

The densification and sintering behaviour of a cryomilled copper powder (grain size of 17±2 nm and dislocation density of 6·26±0·04×10¹⁶ m^?2) were investigated and compared to those of an atomised copper powder with the same mean particle size in order to highlight the effect of the nanostructure on spark plasma sintering (SPS). Oxygen and nitrogen contamination of the cryomilled powder gives rise to extensive degassing during SPS up to 400°C. The cryomilled powder is more resistant to plastic deformation than the atomised one, but the huge density of dislocations and grain boundary activates sintering at low temperature. Densification is therefore promoted by deformation in the atomised powder and by sintering shrinkage in the cryomilled one. As a consequence, in the SPS conditions investigated, the atomised specimen is densified but not sintered, while the cryomilled one is effectively sintered and consequently densified.     

Synthesis of ultrafine WC/Co powder by mechanochemical process

Abstract

A new approach to produce ultrafine WC/Co powder by a mechanochemical process was made to improve the mechanical properties of advanced hardmetals and to cut production costs. For powder preparation, the water soluble salts containing W and Co components were used as starting materials. After synthesis of the precursor powder from an aqueous solution by a spray drying technique, a salt removing heat treatment in air atmosphere was carried out to prepare the oxide powder. The oxide powder was mixed with carbon black by ball milling and this mixture was converted at 800^oC to the nanophase WC/Co powder in H₂ and N₂ atmospheres. The average size of the WC particle was 100-150 nm. The possibility of achieving high density sintered material with an ultrafine and homogeneous microstructure using grain growth inhibitors, such as tantalum and vanadium carbides, has been shown.     

Effect of Compacting Pressure and 0·5%Mo on Properties of Sintered Iron Powder and Manganese Steels

Abstract

An investigation has been carried out on the effect of compacting pressure, in the range 150–600 MPa, and of the addition of 0·5%Mo on the properties of sintered Hametag iron powder and manganese steels. Higher sintering activity compared with standard iron resulted in higher density and higher mechanical properties in the presence of manganese vapour. The addition of 0·5%Mo in the form of ferromolyb-denum caused an increase in density and strength properties in the Fe–C and Fe–Mn–C steels. PM/0157     

THE INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE,TEMPERATURE, AND TIME ON THE HOT PRESSING OF COMMERCIAL BERYLLIUM POWDER

Abstract

For a particular batch of Brush Super-Pure – 200-mesh beryllium powder the hot-pressability (defined as the length of a standard compact of < 98% theoretical density), increased: (1) continuously with pressure over the range 0–1·25 ton/in² for compacts pressed for 1 h at 1100°C;(2) with temperature from 1000°C to a maximum at 1150°C when pressed for 1 h under 1 ton/in²; and (3) to a lesser extent with time over the range 10–120 min when pressed at 1050°C under 0·25 ton/in² and at 1100°C under 1·0 ton/in². Differences in hot-pressability between various batches of the same powder were small compared with the effects of temperature and pressure.

Compaction during hot pressing occurs in two stages: first, collapse of the powder column causing bulk powder flow; followed, secondly, by sintering of particles forced into close contact. The latter is accompanied by a diminution in both the number of pores and their average size and is associated with grain growth, particularly above 1100°C; after pressing at 1200°C any remaining porosity assumes a thermally stable, spherical configuration.