A comparison of 316 L stainless steel parts manufactured by directed energy deposition using gas-atomized and mechanically-generated feedstock

Mechanically-generated powder could potentially provide a more sustainable and lower cost feedstock alternative for the additive manufacturing industry. This research compares properties of stainless steel parts printed on a commercially available directed energy deposition system using both gas-atomized and mechanically-generated feedstock. The manufacturer's recommended power, scan speed, and powder mass flow rate settings were kept constant for all builds at 275 W, 508 mm/min, and 8.2 g/min. The surface texture, microstructure, chemical composition, and mechanical properties of printed parts were compared and found to be similar. These findings show that mechanically-generated powder is a viable alternative in directed energy deposition processing.     

Application of a wax-based binder in PIM of WC–TiC–Co cemented carbides

A wax-based binder was developed for powder injection molding of WC–TiC–Co cemented carbides. The critical powder loading and the rheologic behavior of the feedstock were determined. It was found that the critical powder loading could achieve up to 62.5 vol% and the feedstock exhibited a pseudo-plastic flow behavior. The injection molding, debinding and sintering processes were studied. The dimensional deviation of the sintered samples could be controlled in the range of ±0.2% with the optimized processing parameters. The mechanical properties were better than or equivalent to those of the same alloy made by the conventional press-sintering process.     

Development of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-1Al-8V-5Fe Alloys Using Low-Cost TiH2 Powder Feedstock

Thermo-mechanical processing was performed on two titanium alloy billets, a beta-titanium alloy (Ti1Al8V5Fe) and an alpha-beta titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V), which had been produced using a novel low-cost powder metallurgy process that relies on the use of TiH₂ powder as a feedstock material. The thermomechanical processing was performed in the beta region of the respective alloys to form 16-mm diameter bars. The hot working followed by the heat treatment processes not only eliminated the porosity within the materials but also developed the preferred microstructures. Tensile testing and rotating beam fatigue tests were conducted on the as-rolled and heat-treated materials to evaluate their mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of these alloys matched well with those produced by the conventional ingot processing route.     

粉末原料粒径对WC-17Co涂层性能的影响

本文利用超音速火焰喷涂技术喷涂四种不同粒径的WC-17Co粉末,评价粉末粒径对涂层机械性能和抗磨粒磨损性能的影响。结果表明,粉末的粒径越小,在超音速焰流作用下获得的速度和温度越高,形成的涂层越致密,颗粒间的粘接强度越高,同时涂层的显微硬度也越高。WC-17Co粉末的粒径越小,获得涂层的孔隙直径越小,颗粒间的粘接缺陷越少,因此涂层的抗磨粒磨损性能越好。但是当WC-17Co粉末的粒径过于微小时,涂层的断裂韧性将受到影响。在本文研究的四种粒径分布的WC-17Co粉末中,中间粒径且分布范围集中的粉末制得的涂层兼具良好的机械性能和抗磨粒磨损性能。     

Plasma spray forming: An alternate route for manufacturing free-standing components

The present study uses plasma spray technology as a production process for the fabrication of free- stand-ing, near- net- shaped NiAl components. Attention is especially focused on the in situ synthesis of NiAl. A new internal, dual powder injector blade has been designed to improve the gun performance as well as the spray efficiency of the feedstock powder. The specific role of the substrate (i.e., its shape and material) for the successful spray forming of free- standing parts is studied. The as- sprayed parts were subjected to a post- heat- treatment and hot isostatic pressing. Subsequently, they were metallographically inspected. The mechanical properties, such as hardness, Young’s moduli, and the fracture behavior during four-point bending, are also examined.     

WC-based cermet coatings produced by cold gas dynamic and pulsed gas dynamic spraying processes

Due to their mechanical properties, WC-based cermet coatings are extensively used in wear-resistant applications. These coatings are usually produced using thermal spray processes. However, due to the nature and the environment of these spraying processes, the feedstock powder structure and properties suffer from decomposition, which subsequently degrade the performance of the coatings produced. The cold gas dynamic spraying process appears to be a promising alternative technique to preserve the properties of the feedstock powder during the coating preparation. Although the latter technique can minimize or eliminate the degradation of the sprayed material, the deposition of cermet using this technique is a difficult task. In this study, two types of cermet powders, the nanocrystalline (WC-15Co) and the conventional (WC-10Co4Cr) powders were deposited using the cold gas dynamic spraying and the pulsed gas dynamic spraying processes. The feedstock powders and coatings microstructures were investigated by OM, SEM and XRD, as well as their hardness. The results revealed the possibility of depositing cermet coatings onto aluminum substrates using both processes without any degradation of the carbide phase of the feedstock powder. The cold gas dynamic spraying process experienced difficulty in depositing and building up dense coatings without major defects. The pulsed gas dynamic process produced thick cermet (conventional and nanocrystalline) coatings with low porosity as long as the feedstock powder was preheated above 573 K.     

Effect of thermo-mechanical properties of PIM feedstock on compacts shape retention during debinding process

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Correlation of Impact Conditions,Interface Reactions,Microstructural Evolution,and Mechanical Properties in Kinetic Spraying of Metals: A Review

In the past, most studies into kinetic spraying technology focused on basic research, but a large portion of current research is devoted to industrial applications of the technology. To advance, however, studies about industrial applications of kinetic spraying require profound understanding of the scientific foundations of the kinetic spray process. Nevertheless, no one has yet provided a well-organized summary of the correlations among impact conditions, interface reactions, microstructural evolution, and mechanical properties across the whole field of kinetic spraying technology. This paper provides such an overview of these correlations for kinetic spraying of metals. For each correlation, the interactions between the given conditions and the material properties of the metal feedstock powder are the most influential. These interactions are so complicated that it is difficult to systematically classify all cases into certain types. Nonetheless, we try to explain and summarize the critical factors and their roles in each relationship.     

Optimizing Compliance and Thermal Conductivity of Plasma Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings via Controlled Powders and Processing Strategies

The properties and performance of plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are strongly dependent on the microstructural defects, which are affected by starting powder morphology and processing conditions. Of particular interest is the use of hollow powders which not only allow for efficient melting of zirconia ceramics but also produce lower conductivity and more compliant coatings. Typical industrial hollow spray powders have an assortment of densities resulting in masking potential advantages of the hollow morphology. In this study, we have conducted process mapping strategies using a novel uniform shell thickness hollow powder to control the defect microstructure and properties. Correlations among coating properties, microstructure, and processing reveal feasibility to produce highly compliant and low conductivity TBC through a combination of optimized feedstock and processing conditions. The results are presented through the framework of process maps establishing correlations among process, microstructure, and properties and providing opportunities for optimization of TBCs.     

Characterization of thermal sprayed nanostructured WC-Co coatings derived from nanocrystalline WC-18wt.%Co powders

Nanostructured WC-Co coatings were synthesized using high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray. The nanocrystalline feedstock powder with a nominal composition of WC-18 wt.%Co was prepared using the novel integrated mechanical and thermal activation (IMTA) process. The effects of HVOF thermal spray conditions and powder characteristics on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-sprayed WC-Co coatings were studied. It was found that the ratio of oxygen-to-hydrogen flow rate (ROHFR) and the starting powder microstructures had strong effects on decarburization of the nano-coatings. Decarburization was significantly suppressed at low ROHFR and with the presence of free carbon in the powder. The level of porosity in the coatings was correlated with the powder microstructure and spray process conditions. The coating sprayed at ROHFR=0.5 exhibited the highest microhardness value (HV_300g=1077), which is comparable to that of conventional coarse-grained coatings.     

大气等离子喷涂球磨Fe-Al合金制备FeAl涂层及其结构表征

FeAl金属间化合物具有良好的抗高温氧化和硫化、抗高温冲蚀性能与较高的高温强度,且密度小、成本低。将FeAl用作SOFC支撑体材料,不仅可提高SOFC的高温强度,而且可显著降低其制作成本。本研究采用机械合金化工艺制备了Fe–35Al粉末,通过大气等离子喷涂(APS)制备了FeAl涂层。利用XRD、SEM表征了球磨粉末及热处理前后涂层的微观结构。研究结果表明,通过大气等离子喷涂球磨粉末,可以制备出FeAl金属间化合物涂层,涂层经800℃热处理30h后,可提高FeAl相的有序度。     

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Injection Molding of Ti-6Al-4V Powders for High-Performance Titanium Parts

Both experimental and numerical analysis of powder injection molding (PIM) of Ti-6Al-4V alloy were performed to prepare a defect-free high-performance Ti-6Al-4V part with low carbon/oxygen contents. The prepared feedstock was characterized with specific experiments to identify its viscosity, pressure–volume–temperature and thermal properties to simulate its injection molding process. A finite-element-based numerical scheme was employed to simulate the thermomechanical process during the injection molding. In addition, the injection molding, debinding, sintering and hot isostatic pressing processes were performed in sequence to prepare the PIMed parts. With optimized processing conditions, the PIMed Ti-6Al-4V part exhibits excellent physical and mechanical properties, showing a final density of 99.8%, tensile strength of 973 MPa and elongation of 16%.     

Antibacterial Property of Cold Sprayed Chitosan-Cu/Al Coating

The antibacterial behavior of CS-Cu (chitosan-copper complex) powder and their composite coatings were investigated against Escherichia coli (DH5α). CS-Cu powder and Al (aluminum) based CS-Cu composite powders were synthesized using in-house powder processing techniques. The results indicated that the antibacterial effect of all the powders increased with the proportion of CS-Cu powder. These composite powders were subsequently used as feedstock to generate antibacterial coatings via cold spray technology. The ratios of CS-Cu to Al in their composite powders were 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25 (wt.%). Microstructural characterization and phase analysis of feedstock powders and as-deposited coatings were carried out using FESEM/EDX and FTIR. Antibacterial composite CS-Cu/Al coatings were successfully deposited using cold spraying parameters of 6-8 bars at preheated helium gas, temperature between 140 and 150 °C. The coatings retained the antibacterial properties of the original feedstock powders.     

IMPROVEMENT OF RHEOLOGICAL AND SHAPE RETENTION PROPERTIES OF WAX-BASED MIM BINDER BY MULTI-POLYMER COMPONENTS

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Mushy/Semi-Solid Metal Forming Technology - Present and Future

Mushy, semi-solid and/or thixo processing of metals (alloys) is becoming popular as a new potential manufacturing technology for parts and components in automobile, electronic and machine industries. Internal structures and mechanical properties of those metals that include solid and liquid fractions are quite different from those of hot or molten metals. Diversified possibilities are known today to process those metals based on die casting, hot metal forming or polymer injection technologies, each of which has its own specific advantages and disadvantages. Up to now thixocasting and thixomolding have been used in industrial applications for light metal alloys. The potentials of those processes are wider by far however. They include the processing of specially designed alloys and composites, the combination of forming and joining processes as well as reduction of production costs and energy consumption.     

Thermal decomposition behavior of nano/micro bimodal feedstock with different solids loading

Debinding is one of the most critical processes for powder injection molding. The parts in debinding process are vulnerable to defect formation, and long processing time of debinding decreases production rate of whole process. In order to determine the optimal condition for debinding process, decomposition behavior of feedstock should be understood. Since nano powder affects the decomposition behavior of feedstock, nano powder effect needs to be investigated for nano/micro bimodal feedstock. In this research, nano powder effect on decomposition behavior of nano/micro bimodal feedstock has been studied. Bimodal powders were fabricated with different ratios of nano powder, and the critical solids loading of each powder was measured by torque rheometer. Three different feedstocks were fabricated for each powder depending on solids loading condition. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) experiment was carried out to analyze the thermal decomposition behavior of the feedstocks, and decomposition activation energy was calculated. The result indicated nano powder showed limited effect on feedstocks in lower solids loading condition than optimal range. Whereas, it highly influenced the decomposition behavior in optimal solids loading condition by causing polymer chain scission with high viscosity.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of B4C reinforced Al-based matrix composite coatings deposited by CGDS and PGDS processes

Coatings of a composite material consisting of an Al-12Si matrix reinforced with 20 wt.% B₄C particles were produced using Cold Gas Dynamic Spray (CGDS) and Pulsed Gas Dynamic Spray (PGDS) processes onto Al-6061 and SS-316L substrates. Two types of composite feedstock powders (mechanically mixed and cryomilled) were used. The influence of the coating process as well as the nature of the feedstock material on the coating microstructure and mechanical properties was studied. The combination of cryomilling to synthesize the feedstock powder and the spray processes provides a unique opportunity to produce hard and dense composite coatings with good cohesion between the deformed particles and good adhesion to the substrate, no phase degradation, very low compressive stresses and high dry sliding wear resistance. The two spray processes have shown almost similar results regarding microstructure and mechanical properties. No effect of the substrate material, Al-6061 and SS-316L, on the coating microstructure and properties was observed.     

一种伺服直驱粉末成形机及其加工方法

针对传统粉末成形机液压驱动及机械驱动的弊端,设计了新型全伺服电机直驱结构,新设计具有设备造价低、体积小、环保节能、加工效率高等特点.同时,新设计工艺动作先进,使成形工件尺寸稳定,废品率低.     

A new starch-based binder for metal injection molding

A composition of starch and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) was prepared as the binder and a mixture of this binder with 316L stainless steel powder was used to achieve a feedstock with 57% vol. powder loading. Rheological specifications of the binder and the feedstock were observed by means of capillary rheometery. Pseudo-plastic behavior of the binder and feedstock was investigated as a necessity in metal injection molding (MIM) process by proper flow characterization tests and their viscosity as the most significant flow characteristic was obtained in acceptable ranges. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out on feedstock in order to understand decomposition behavior of the binder components. In the next step, injection molding of the components was successfully conducted. Mechanical properties of compacts were then investigated through the triple point flexure test and the results showed that mechanical strength of specimens are very close to established ranges. The density of green parts was measured to assess the compaction of feedstock and it was achieved within the expected range for ferrous-based feedstocks. Debinding process was accomplished on compacted articles at three different temperature ranges including 70, 80 and 90 °C. Sintering process also was successfully accomplished on samples. For observing microstructures, the surface and cross section of specimens were compared before and after debinding as well as after sintering using scanning electron macrograph (SEM). Generally, this newly developed binder demonstrated a good potential for being utilized in MIM process.