An Investigation of Evolutions during Liquid Phase Sintering of Systems with Volatile Components

In this paper, the possibility of elephant foot phenomenon in sintered alloys with volatile components has been studied. To do this, Cu-28Zn brass samples were sintered at the range of 890-970°C for 20 min. The in situ images from brass samples were taken at various sintering conditions. It is concluded that although liquid is pulled down by gravity, but elephant phenomenon was not appeared in these compacts. Instead, the samples were swelled. Chemical composition change and pores coarsening due to zinc evaporation could be considered as the main cause of swelling in brass compacts

Densification and volumetric change during supersolidus liquid phase sintering of prealloyed brass Cu28Zn powder: Modeling and optimization

An investigation has been made to use response surface methodology and central composite rotatable design for modeling and optimizing the effect of sintering variables on densification of prealloyed Cu28Zn brass powder during supersolidus liquid phase sintering. The mathematical equations were derived to predict sintered density, densification parameter, porosity percentage and volumetric change of samples using second order regression analysis. As well as the adequacy of models was evaluated by analysis of variance technique at 95% confidence level. Finally, the influence and interaction of sintering variables, on achieving any desired properties was demonstrated graphically in contour and three dimensional plots. In order to better analyze the samples, microstructure evaluation was carried out. It was concluded that response surface methodology based on central composite rotatable design, is an economical way to obtain arbitrary information with performing the fewest number of experiments in a short period of time

DENSIFICATION AND MICROSTRUCTURE CHARACTERISTICS OF A PREALLOYED ALPHA BRASS POWDER PROCESSED BY LIQUID PHASE SINTERING

The rapidly solidified prealloyed alpha brass powder with a size range of 40 to 100 μm produced by water atomization process was consolidated using liquid phase sintering process. The relationships between sintering temperature, physic-mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics were investigated. Maximum densification was obtained at 930 °C, under 600 MPa compacting pressure, with 60 min holding time. The microstructure of the sintered brass was influenced by dezincification and structural coarsening during supersolidus liquid phase sintering. As a consequence of Kirkendall effect atomic motion between Cu and Zn atoms caused to dezincification at the grain boundaries and formation of ZnO particles on the pore surfaces. It was concluded that microstructural analysis is in a well agreement with obtained physical and mechanical properties. Also, the amount of liquid phase, which depends on sintering temperature, results in different load bearing cross section areas, and it affects the type of fracture morphologies