In this study, we report the microstructure and characteristics of Ag-SnO2-Bi2O3 contact materials using a controlled milling process with a subsequent compaction process. Using magnetic pulsed compaction (MPC), the milled Ag-SnO2-Bi2O3 powders have been consolidated into bulk samples. The effects of the compaction conditions on the microstructure and characteristics have been investigated in detail. The nanoscale SnO2 phase and microscale Bi2O3 phase are well-distributed homogeneously in the Ag matrix after the consolidation process. The successful consolidation of Ag-SnO2-Bi2O3 contact materials was achieved by an MPC process with subsequent atmospheric sintering, after which the hardness and electrical conductivity of the Ag-SnO2-Bi2O3 contact materials were found to be 62–75 HV and 52–63% IACS, respectively, which is related to the interfacial stability between the Ag matrix, the SnO2 phase, and the Bi2O3 phase.

Accurate and effective powder compaction analyses are performed for brittle materials such as graphite, utilized as a solid lubricant, by using the discrete element method (DEM). The reliability of the DEM analysis is confirmed by comparing the results of graphite powder compaction analyses using the DEM particle bonding contact model and particle non-bonding contact model with those from the powder compaction experiment under the same conditions. To improve the characteristics, the parameters influencing the compaction properties of the metal-graphite mixtures are explored. The compressibility increases as the size distribution of the graphite powder increases, where the shape of the graphite particles is uniform. The improved compaction characteristics of the metal-graphite (bonding model) mixtures are further verified by the stress transmission and compressive force distribution between the top and bottom punches. It is confirmed that the application of graphite (bonding model) powders resulted in improved stress transmission and compressive force distribution of 24% and 85%, respectively.

In this paper, a durability study is presented to enhance the mechanical properties of an Fe-Si-Al powderbased magnetic core, through the addition of graphite. The compressive properties of Fe-Si-Al-graphite powder mixtures are explored using discrete element method (DEM), and a powder compaction experiment is performed under identical conditions to verify the reliability of the DEM analysis. Important parameters for powder compaction of Fe-Si-Algraphite powder mixtures are identified. The compressibility of the powders is observed to increase as the amount of graphite mixture increases and as the size of the graphite powders decreases. In addition, the compaction properties of the Fe-Si-Al-graphite powder mixtures are further explored by analyzing the transmissibility of stress between the top and bottom punches as well as the distribution of the compressive force. The application of graphite powders is confirmed to result in improved stress transmission and compressive force distribution, by 24% and 51%, respectively.

Powder compaction is a continually and rapidly evolving technology where it is a highly developed method ofmanufacturing reliable components. To understand existing mechanisms for compaction, parameter investigation isrequired. Experimental investigations on powder compaction process, followed by numerical modeling of compaction arepresented in this paper. The experimental work explores compression characteristics of soft and hard ductile powdermaterials. In order to account for deformation, fracture and movement of the particles, a discrete-finite element analysismodel is defined to reflect the experimental data and to enable investigations on mechanisms present at the particlelevel. Effects of important simulation factors and process parameters, such as particle count, time step, particle discret-ization, and particle size on the powder compaction procedure have been explored.

In this study, effect of core-shell structure on compaction behavior of harmonic powder is investigated. Harmonic powders are made by electroless plating method on Fe powders. Softer Cu shell encloses harder Fe core, and the average size of Fe core and thickness of Cu shell are 34.3 μm and 3.2 μm, respectively. The powder compaction procedure is processed with pressure of 600 MPa in a cylindrical die. Due to the low strength of Cu shell regions, the harmonic powders show better densification behavior compared with pure Fe powders. Finite element method (FEM) is performed to understand the roll of core-shell structure. Based on stress and strain distributions of FEM results, it is concluded that the early stage of powder compaction of harmonic powders mainly occurs at the shell region. FEM results also well predict porosity of compacted materials.

In this study, nanocrystalline Cu-Ni bulk materials with various compositions were cold compacted by a shock compaction method using a single-stage gas gun system. Since the oxide layers on powder surface disturbs bonding between powder particles during the shock compaction process, each nanopowder was hydrogen-reduced to remove the oxide layers. X-ray peak analysis shows that hydrogen reduction successfully removed the oxide layers from the nano powders. For the shock compaction process, mixed powder samples with various compositions were prepared using a roller mixer. After the shock compaction process, the density of specimens increased up to 95% of the relative density. Longitudinal cross-sections of the shock compacted specimen demonstrates that a boundary between two powders are clearly distinguished and agglomerated powder particles remained in the compacted bulk. Internal crack tended to decrease with an increase in volumetric ratio of nano Cu powders in compacted bulk, showing that nano Cu powders has a higher coherency than nano Ni powders. On the other hand, hardness results are dominated by volume fraction of the nano Ni powder. The crystalline size of the shock compacted bulk materials was greatly reduced from the initial powder crystalline size since the shock wave severely deformed the powders.

3-D shape soft magnetic composite parts can be formed by general compaction method of powder metallurgy. In this study, the results on the high density nanostructured Fe-Si/Fe composite prepared by a warm compaction method were presented. Ball-milled Fe-25 wt.%Si powder, pure Fe powder and Si-polymer were mixed and then the powder mixture was compacted at various temperatures and pressures. Pore free density of samples up to 95% theoretical value has been obtained. The warm compacted sample prepared at 650 MPa and 240℃ had highest compaction properties in comparison with other compacts prepared at 300, 400 MPa and room temperature and 120℃. The magnetic properties such as core loss, magnetization saturation and coercivity were measured by B-H curve analyzer and vibration sample magnetometer.

The compaction response of nano powders with an addition of Ti powders prepared by magnetic pulsed compaction and subsequent sintering processes was investigated. All kinds of different bulk exhibited an average shrinkage of about 12% for different MPCed pressure and sintering temperature, which were approximately 50% lower than those fabricated by general process (20%) and a maximum density of around 92.7% was obtained for 0.8GPa MPCed pressure and sintering temperature. The addition of Ti powder induced an increase in the formability and hardness of the sintered . But the lower densities were obtained on sintering with addition of over 10 (wt%) Ti powder due to generation of crack during sintering. Subsequently it was verified that the optimum compaction pressure in MPC and sintering temperature were 0.8GPa and , respectively

This article presents the successful consolidation of the mixed Co and Diamond powders for a drilling segment by the combined application of magnetic pulsed compaction (MPC) and subsequent sintering, and their properties were analyzed. Homogeneous hardness (Hv 220) and density (97%) of sintered bulks fabricated by MPC were obtained by the new technique, where higher pressure has been employed for short period of time than that of general process. A fine microstructure and homogeneous hardness in the consolidated bulk were observed without cracks. Relatively higher drilling speed of 9.61 cm/min and life time of 6.55 m were found to the MPCed specimens, whereas the value of the specimens fabricated by general process was 11.71 cm/min and 7.96 m, respectively. A substantial improvement of mechanical properties of segment was achieved through this study.

In this research, fine-structure TiO2 bulks were fabricated in a combined application of magnetic pulsed compaction (MPC) and subsequent sintering and their densification behavior was investigated. The obtained density of TiO2 bulk prepared via the combined processes increased as the MPC pressure increased from 0.3 to 0.7 GPa. Relatively higher density (88%) in the MPCed specimen at 0.7 GPa was attributed to the decrease of the inter-particle distance of the pre-compacted component. High pressure and rapid compaction using magnetic pulsed compaction reduced the shrinkage rate (about 10% in this case) of the sintered bulks compared to general processing (about 20%). The mixing conditions of PVA, water, and TiO2 nano powder for the compaction of TiO2 nano powder did not affect the density and shrinkage of the sintered bulks due to the high pressure of the MPC.

In recent years, a rapid increase in demands for the soft magnetic composite parts has been created and it has been tried to improve their properties by various processing methods, alloying elements and compaction parameters. Warm compaction method has been used for the reduction of residual stress, the improvement of magnetic properties and the higher densities. In this work, the effects of warm compaction and polymer binder on magnetic properties of Fe powder core were investigated. The sintering powder, Fe oxide, was ball-milled for 30n hours. And then ball-milled Fe oxide powder was reduced through hydrogen reduction process. The hydrogen reduced Fe powder and polymer binder were mixed by 3-D turbular mixer. And then the mixed powder was warm-compacted. The magnetic properties such as core loss and permeability were measured by B-H curve analyzer.

Various approaches have been proposed to increase the green density. Warm compaction method has been used for the reduction of residual stress, the improvement of magnetic properties and the higher densities. In this work, the effect of warm compaction on green density of Fe powder was investigated. After ball-milling of Fe oxide powder for 30 hours, Fe oxide powder was reduced through the hydrogen reduction process. The pure Fe powder and polymer binder were mixed by 3-D tubular mixer. And then the mixed powder was warm-compacted with various compaction pressure and binder contents. The green density of specimen was added polyvinyl binder was higher than any other specimens.

The correct computer simulation of the powder compaction stage requires the determination of the elastoplastic parameters which characterize its mechanical behavour. Instrumented dies are frequently used to monitor the longitudinal and radial stress occurring during powder compaction. When strain gages are employed a previous calibration is needed. Many sources of error exist that can lead to the incorrect calibration of the instrumented die. By means of a FEM simulation some of these problems are analysed. The effect of die wall thickness, compression length, and strain location are studied.

Recently warm compaction techniques are focused on and commercialization of one high-density compaction process in the P/M industry. Another development is a new SEGLESS using a developed lubricant that reduces ejection force at room temperature compaction. It is possible to achieve high-density by reducing lubricant amount. In this paper we confirmed that green density was 7.35 g/cm3 at 686MPa of compaction pressure when the new SEGLESS was applied to relatively lower temperature warm compaction process, such as 80℃.

A high nitrogen PM tool steel has shown to have an excellent galling resistance due to the introduction of a high amount of a low friction phase predominantly consisting of VN. Tool making and heat treatment are according to standard procedures. An increase of tool life of more than two times compared to ordinary tool steels is found. Furthermore, the new low friction tool steel shows a potential for sintered parts with higher densities through the applica bility of increased compaction pressure or minimized lubricant amount.

An apparatus measuring changes of various forces directly and continuously was developed by a way of direct touch between powders and transmitting force component, which can be used to study forces state of powders during warm compaction. Using the apparatus, warm compaction processes of iron-based powder materials containing different lubricants at different temperatures were studied. Results show that densification of the iron-based powder materials can be divided into four stages, in which powder movement changes from robustness to weakness, while its degree of plastic deformation changes from weakness to robustness.

Densification behavior of iron powder under cold stepped compaction was studied. Experimental data were also obtained for iron powder under cold stepped compaction. The elastoplastic constitutive equation based on the yield function of Shima and Oyane was implemented into a finite element program (ABAQUS) to simulate compaction responses of iron powder during cold stepped compaction. Finite element results were compared with experimental data for densification, deformed geometry and density distribution.