Near net shape processing of a sintered alumina component: adjustment of pressing parameters through finite element simulation

Near net shape forming of alumina powder by cold die pressing and pressureless sintering was investigated. From experimental data of triaxial compression test of alumina powder, a hyperbolic cap model with a critical state line was proposed for densification of alumina powder at room temperature. For pressureless sintering, the phenomenological model for densification and viscous behavior of alumina powder proposed by Kim and co-workers was used. The constitutive models were implemented into a finite element program (ABAQUS) to simulate densification of alumina powder under cold die pressing and pressureless sintering. Finite element results were compared with experimental data for density distribution and deformation of an alumina powder compact under cold die pressing and pressureless sintering. New conditions of compaction were then proposed to reduce the distortion of the sintered part.     

Simulation of microscopic shrinkage behaviour in sintering of powder compact

A method for simulating microscopic shrinkage behaviour of powder particles in sintering of a compact is proposed on the basis of the granular element method. In this method, the powder particles are modelled as many circular elements undergoing viscoplastic deformation due to surface tension during the sintering, and the microscopic shrinkage is calculated by equilibrating forces acting on the elements. The variation in shape of necks between the elements during the sintering is taken into consideration. Plane-strain shrinkage in sintering is calculated under regular and irregular dispositions of powder particles. In the regular disposition of powders having the same diameter, the obtained shrinkage behaviour is compared with the experimental one using glass rods and the calculated one by the viscoplastic finite-element simulation respectively. It is shown from the simulation of irregular disposition that the densification due to the sintering is accelerated by mixing powders having different diameters.     

Near-net-shape forming of alumina powder under hot pressing and hot isostatic pressing

Densification and deformation of alumina powder under hot pressing and hot isostatic pressing were investigated. Finite element calculations were performed by implementing constitutive equations for grain growth, power law creep and diffusional creep in the user defined subroutine CREEP of ABAQUS. An alumina compact of valve head shape was produced under hot pressing and its forming process was predicted by the finite element calculation. Densification behavior of an alumina powder compact encapsulated by a stainless steel container was also investigated under hot isostatic pressing. Inhomogeneous deformations of an alumina powder compact due to the shield effect of a container during hot isostatic pressing were observed experimentally and predicted by the finite element analysis.     

Near-net-shape forming of 316L stainless steel powder under hot isostatic pressing

Near-net-shape forming of 316L stainless steel powder is investigated under hot isostatic pressing (HIPing). A stainless steel powder compact and an insert were encapsulated by a stainless steel container and hot isostatically pressed to produce an axisymmetric near-net-shape part. To simulate densification and deformation of a powder compact in the container during HIPing, the constitutive model of Abouaf et al., and that of McMeeking and co-workers were implemented into a finite element analysis. The thickness effect of the container on densification was also studied for the axisymmetric part during HIPing. Densification of a three-dimensional asymmetric part during HIPing was also investigated by comparing finite element calculations with experimental data by Eisen et al.     

Densification behavior of copper powder during the coupled multi-physics fields-activated microforming

External electric field-activated sintering techniques have been widely investigated and applied for the forming of large-sized components. These techniques are, however, rarely utilized for the manufacture of miniature and microsized components. In this paper, a novel, coupled forming, and sintering method is reported, which has been used for the fabrication of microcomponents, wherein the loose powder is loaded directly into the die, followed by simultaneous electrical forming and electric sintering (named coupled multi-physics-fields activation). In the study, the gears with the module of 0.2 and the pitch diameter of 1.6 mm were formed from copper powder. The coupled multi-fields activations were enabled using a Gleeble-1500D thermal simulation machine. Sintered samples with a relative density of 97.20 % have been fabricated at a sintering temperature of 700 °C, heating rate of 50 °C/s, forming pressure of 100 MPa, while these parameters were applied cyclically. The study showed that the axial reduction of the samples increased rapidly with the increase of temperature during the sintering, while the external pressure was maintained. Based on the experimental observations, it can be concluded that the deformation of the particles resulted in an increase in, and then subsequent disappearance of, the interface areas among the particles, which feature plays a key role in the densification of the copper powder.     

Microscopic approach of powder compaction using finite element method

An approach for simulating microscopic densification behaviour of powder particles in compaction using a finite element method is proposed. In this method, the contacts between powder particles during the compaction are detected, and plastic deformation of the particles is calculated by the finite element method for a porous metal. The finite element mesh is generated by connecting the centres of the particles in contact. It is assumed that the finite elements are porous metals having an average relative density calculated from the volumes of the powder and pore inside the element. The elements are classified into the triangular and quadrilateral ones used in the conventional finite element methods and a linear one for the simple compression. The accuracy of the stiffness for plastic deformation of the particles is improved by applying the finite element method. The calculated plastic deformation of powder particles in plane-strain compaction is compared with that for a model experiment using aluminium rods.     

Densification of mixed metal powder at high temperature

Densification behaviors of mixed metal powder under high temperature were investigated. Experimental data of mixed copper and tool steel powder with various volume fractions of Cu powder were obtained under hot isostatic pressing and hot pressing. By mixing the creep potentials of McMeeking and co-workers and of Abouaf and co-workers originally for pure powder, the mixed creep potentials with various volume fractions of Cu powder were employed in the constitutive models. The constitutive equations were implemented into a finite element program (ABAQUS) to compare with experimental data for densification of mixed powder under hot isostatic pressing and hot pressing. Finite element calculations by using the creep potentials of Abouaf and co-workers agreed reasonably well with experimental data, however, those by the model of McMeeking and co-workers underestimate experimental data as observed in the case of pure metal powders.     

Mathematical modeling of sintering during powder forming processes

This paper describes a study of densification induced by local capillary forces during compaction of powder based materials. A coupled sinter-compaction model with an internal state parameter was proposed. An internal state parameter was assumed as the sintering stresses on contact areas between powder particles. The mechanical model describing the plastic deformation during the P/M forging of a preform is based on the plasticity theory of porous metals. The numerical investigation of P/M forming processes is based on the rigid-plastic finite element model. A finite element program taking into account the sintering effect during P/M forming is created. A numerical example is considered.     

Micro–macro simulation of sintering process by coupling Monte Carlo and finite element methods

A micro–macro method for simulating a sintering process of ceramic powder compacts based on the Monte Carlo and finite element methods is proposed. Macroscopic non-uniform shrinkage during the sintering is calculated by the viscoplastic finite element method. In the microscopic approach using the Monte Carlo method, powder particles and pores among the particles are divided into many cells, and the growth of grains in the particles and the disappearance of pores are simulated by means of the Potts model.The shrinkage strain rate required as a materials constant in the macroscopic method is calculated by the microscopic approach. The microscopic and macroscopic approaches are coupled by exchanging microscopic and macroscopic results in each finite element step. In the Monte Carlo method, the effect of macroscopic viscoplastic deformation on the microstructural change is taken into consideration by including viscoplastic strain rate calculated by the finite element method in the disappearance frequency of pore cells. The shrinkage behaviour in the sintering of circular two-layer compacts is simulated by the proposed micro–macro method.     

粉末冶金Ti-22Al-25Nb合金的真空热压烧结工艺

以气雾化法获得的Ti-22Al-25Nb（at.%）预合金粉末为初始原料,采用真空热压烧结工艺方法制备组织致密、成分均匀的粉末冶金Ti-22Al-25Nb合金。应用有限元软件MSC.Marc对Ti-22Al-25Nb（at.%）预合金粉末的致密化过程进行数值模拟,分析了温度和压力对Ti-22Al-25Nb粉末致密化过程的影响,揭示了粉末相对密度随温度和压力变化的规律,得到优化的烧结工艺参数,以指导热压实验烧结。通过热压烧结实验制备了组织致密、成分均匀的Ti-22Al-25Nb合金,发现1 050 ℃/35 MPa/1 h条件下烧结的合金具有最优的室温和650 ℃高温综合力学性能。     

温压致密化机理及其在温压粉末设计中的应用

温压是以较低的成本制造高性能铁基粉末冶金零部件的新型成形技术。试验结果表明，颗粒重排是温压过程的主导致密化机理，而为颗粒重排提供协调性的塑性变形是另一重要的致密化机理，同时还分析了影响这两个致密化机理的主要因素。在此基础上，提出了温压粉末原料的设计原则，并成功地开发了高性能、低成本、合金钢粉末三大体系的温压粉末原料。     

Power-law creep of powder bonded by isolated contacts

The deformation of powder due to power-law creep near the interparticle contacts is modeled. It is assumed that the plastic dissipation is dominated by the rate of approach of neighboring particles and that the effect of tangential motion can be neglected. To characterize the creep law, the macroscopic strain rate in the powder aggregate is specified and the energy dissipated in power-law creep is computed. This work rate is used in a potential to determine the macroscopic creep parameters. The effective macroscopic shear and dilatational creep properties resulting from this model depend on the relative density of the powder. The creep rates are infinite at random close-packed density. A feature of the creep law is a high sensitivity to changes in deviatoric stress when the stress state is nearly hydrostatic and the creep exponent is high.     

Effect of friction between powder and a mandrel on densification of iron powder during cold isostatic pressing

The effects of friction between the powder and the mandrel on densification behavior of metal powder were investigated under cold isostatic pressing. The friction coefficients between the powder and the mandrels with different surface roughness were determined from the relationship between the compaction pressure and the ejection pressure of the mandrel from powder compacts. The elastoplastic constitutive equations based on the yield function of Shima and Oyane were implemented into a finite element program (ABAQUS) to simulate compaction responses of metal powders during cold isostatic pressing. Finite element results were compared with experimental data for pure iron powder under cold isostatic pressing.     

Cold compaction of an array of cylindrical fibres

The biaxial compaction of a square array of circular cylinders is studied using slip-line field, upper bound and finite element methods. Densification is assumed to occur by plastic deformation at the contacts. It is found that contact–contact interaction has a softening effect on the local indentation pressure at each contact. The yield surfaces resulting from hydrostatic and closed-die compaction are constructed at various stages of densification: the size and shape of the yield surface depend upon the loading history and upon the relative density of the compact. The finite element predictions suggest the formation of a vertex at the loading point for the entire densification process in the case of isostatic compaction. On the other hand, a vertex at the loading point is formed only for a relative density D0.85 in the case of closed-die compaction.     

Mn-Zn铁氧体粉末压坯微波烧结致密性研究

采用频率为2.45 GHz的微波对Mn-Zn铁氧体粉末压坯进行烧结,研究微波加热过程样品的吸波性能和致密化特性,并探讨压坯在微波场中的加热机理,用扫描电镜对烧结样品的形貌进行观察。结果表明,Mn-Zn铁氧体粉末压坯在微波加热的初期(温度低于500)吸波性能较好,样品温度上升比较快,平均为15 ℃/min.;当温度高于500 ℃,加热速度逐渐下降,温度到800 ℃左右必须加大微波功率,样品温度才会继续上升;温度高于1 400 ℃,样品发生“热失控”;烧结温度对烧结密度的影响比较显著,密度随烧结温度的升高而增大,从1 250 的4.20 g/cm增大到1 400 ℃的4.93 g/cm;Mn-Zn铁氧体可在微波场中快速烧结致密,在1 400 微波烧结(保温时间为零)Mn-Zn铁氧体粉末样品组织致密、均匀。     

MIM零件烧结过程中收缩和变形的数值模拟

为描述金属粉末注射成形坯件在烧结过程中的收缩和变形行为,基于连续介质力学原理建立了符合粘塑性本构关系的宏观烧结模型。该模型通过有限元软件Abaqus的用户子程序实现,进行烧结过程的数值模拟。分析了由于坯件重力、非均匀初始密度分布以及坯件支承体之间的摩擦力等因素而引起的非均匀收缩和变形。通过与试验结果的比较,验证了烧结模型和数值方法的正确性。     

Inconel625粉末盘热等静压近净成形过程模拟与验证

为一次性成形复杂结构的镍基高温合金涡轮盘零件,采用热等静压近净成形(NNS-HIP)方法,设计了随形和上下对称两种模具方案。基于连续介质塑性理论,用有限元程序MSC.Marc实现了Inconel625粉末盘NNS-HIP过程的数值模拟,选取了较优方案进行试验。模拟结果显示：薄壁软钢包套受压变形大,驱动粉末致密化,内部型芯基本不变形,达到了粉末盘内部复杂流道控形的目的;粉末体先膨胀后分段致密化,呈现非定向复杂流动规律。试验结果表明：数值模拟预测的尺寸误差在3.57%以内,主要由加工和测量误差引起;低密度区的模拟密度值较实际结果低,主要是模拟忽略了粉末颗粒的移动和重排等微观行为所致;Inconel625压坯的拉伸强度高于ASTM同质锻件标准,固溶处理后可以获得良好的塑性。研究结果说明,通过数值模拟可以为NNS-HIP模具的结构设计提供参考。     

Densification behavior of tungsten-fiber-reinforced copper powder compacts under hot isostatic pressing

Densification behavior of tungsten-fiber-reinforced copper powder compacts under hot isostatic pressing was investigated. Hot isostatic pressing was carried out for a bundle of copper-coated tungsten fibers in copper powder. Due to tungsten-fibers and copper coating layers, the densification rate of a tungsten-fiber-reinforced copper powder compact was slower than that of pure copper powder. The constitutive equations by McMeeking and co-workers and by Abouaf and co-workers were implemented into a finite element program (ABAQUS) to analyze densification behavior of tungsten-fiber-reinforced copper powder compacts under hot isostatic pressing. Finite element calculations were compared with experimental results for the variation of relative density with time for copper powder compacts during hot isostatic pressing. Density distributions in copper powder compacts were also investigated by comparing experimental results with finite element calculations.     

烧结助剂含量对氮化硅陶瓷球致密化和力学性能的影响

以α-Si3 N4粉为原料,纳米级Y2 O3和Al2 O3为烧结助剂,采用气压烧结工艺制备氮化硅陶瓷球,研究了烧结助剂含量对氮化硅陶瓷球致密化及力学性能的影响.结果表明:随着烧结助剂含量的增加,氮化硅陶瓷球的相对密度逐渐增大,维氏硬度逐渐降低,断裂韧性不断提高;烧结温度为1750℃时,烧结助剂含量为8％的氮化硅陶瓷球综...     

粉末冶金含油轴承内孔的加工方法优化与扩径力计算

提出了一种新型粉末冶金含油轴承内孔的加工方法,根据粉末冶金含油轴承材料特点,建立了扩径变形区单元体力学模型,考虑材料扩径过程中的加工硬化以及静水压力在粉末冶金材料塑性变形与致密过程中的影响,通过主应力法推导出含油轴承扩径力解析式,并用自行设计的加工设备对铝基含油轴承进行了扩口实验,进一步验证了新加工方法的可行性及扩径力公式的合理性。