Powder Metallurgy Processing Equipment

The powder metallurgy processing equipment employed is specifically designed to accurately simulate an industrial press-sinter-size sequence.  Research is completed at all stages of the process including powder blending, compaction (uni-axial die and CIP), controlled atmosphere sintering, sizing/repressing, and secondary operations (heat treatment, shot peening, etc.).

Powder Compaction

Uni-axial Die Compaction of Powders

• Instron Model 200HVL
• Load Capacity = 1MN
• Maximum Pressure = 600MPa
• Self Contained Tool Sets Available for the Uni-Axial Die Compaction of:
  • Discs (15mm, 30mm and 50mm OD)
  • Transverse Rupture Strength Bars (12.7 x 31.7mm)
  • Charpy Bars (12.7mm x 75mm)
  • Rectangular Bars (20 x 90mm)
  • Dog Bone Tensile Bars

Universal test frame and the self-contained tooling utilized to simulate industrial powder compaction operations.

Cold Isostatic Press (CIP)

• Avure Technologies
• Maximum Pressure = 415MPa
• Chamber Volume = 3500cm³

Avure Technolgies model LCIP 42260 cold isostatic press for compacting metal powders.

Controlled Atmosphere Sintering

Tube Furnace

• Lindberg Three-Zone Furnace
• Carbolite Three-Zone Furnace
• Stainless Steel Retort with Water Jacketed Cooling Section
• Atmospheres: Ar, N₂, Mechanical Vacuum (10^-2 Torr)

Customized tandem furnace assembly for sintering PM compacts under a controlled atmosphere.

Bell Jar Furnace

• Materials Research Furnaces
• Maximum Temperature = 1650°C
• Atmospheres: Ar, N₂, H₂, Mixed Gas, High Vacuum (10^-5 Torr)
• Oxygen Monitor

Multi-atmosphere bell jar furnace regularly utilized in sintering studies on a variety of different alloys (aluminum, nickel, iron, titanium, etc.).

Spark Plasma Sintering Furnace

• GT-Advanced Technologies
• Maximum Temperature = 2200°C
• Maximum Load = 100kN
• Atmospheres: Ar, N₂, H₂, Mixed Gas, Mechanical Vacuum (10^-2 Torr)
• 20mm and 40mm OD graphite tooling

Spark plasma sintering furnace utilized to consolidate metallic, ceramic, and composite particulate materials.

Copyright, Dalhousie Particulate Material Research Group, 2019