DIRECT METAL FABRICATION (DMF) USING A CARBON PRECURSOR TO BIND THE 'GREEN FORM' PART AND CATALYZE A EUTECTIC REDUCING ELEMENT IN A SUPERSOLIDUS LIQUID PHASE SINTERING (SLPS) PROCESS

摘要

Direct Metal Fabrication of metal parts is accomplished with a continuous thermal process in which partial reduction of the "green form" part leaves a thin carbon film that maintains the part's structural integrity. The remaining carbon catalyzes a eutectic reducing element to diffuse throughout the part forming organo-metallic bonds that bind the homogenized metal alloy. Supersolidus liquid phase sintering (SLPS) densifies the alloy to provide a final part of parent material quality. The DMF process can be used in magnetographic printing to imprint an image.