Both plastic and elastic properties change dramatically from the beginning to the end of the compaction phase. Previous investigations have shown that powder transfer and high powder flow during initial compaction at low density affects the strength of the final component significantly. Investigated here are shear failure and elastic shear modulus in the low density range for hard metal powder and for pre-alloyed water atomized iron powder. Direct shear test equipment for sand and clay has been modified to measure the shearing properties of powder for an axial loading between 1 kPa and 500 kPa.

High velocity compaction (HVC) is a production technique with capacity to significantly improve the mechanical properties of powder metallurgy (PM) parts. Investigated here are green body data such as density, tensile strength, radial springback, ejection force and surface flatness. Comparisons are performed with conventional compaction using the same pressing conditions. Cylindrical samples of a pre-alloyed water atomized iron powder are used in this experimental investigation. The HVC process in this study resulted in a better compressibility curve and lower ejection force compared to conventional quasi static pressing. Vertical scanning interferometry measurements show that the HVC process gives flatter sample surfaces.