Powder Compaction: Fundamentals and Recent Developments

Abstract

The lecture reviews processes and mechanisms of powder compaction in dies, by cold or hot isostatic pressing, and by various other methods. The review will also include the hot and cold forging of powder preforms. Key problems of the main processes will be discussed, such as mass flow in the powder bed during compaction, which is required to achieve homogeneous density distribution in a part, or the role of powder lubrication.Applications of powder compaction are described using examples from such areas as the manufacture of sintered machine parts, high-strength automotive parts made by powder forging, the fabrication of mill shapes from powder (e.g., high speed steel or stainless steel tubing), and the production of aircraft engine parts by hot isostatic pressing.