DYNAMIC STUDIES ON THE SINTERING OF COMPACTED METAL POWDERS USING AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

摘要

The sintering of pre-pressed powders of iron, copper and nickel has been studied in situ using an Environmental scanning electron microscope. The small samples were slowly heated to sintering temperatures in a reducing atmosphere. Continuous monitoring of the fracture surface of the sample revealed the initial formation of inter-particle bonds at relatively low temperatures for fine particles. The effect of particle size on sintering has been studied and the results indicate that finer particles (<10μm) could sinter at temperatures 100 to 200° lower than those for coarser particles (>50 to 100μm). This type of information obtained in the laboratory could be useful in fine tuning process parameters for a given particle mix.