Papers by Author: Graham B. Schaffer

Abstract: TiAl alloy powder is difficult to sinter unless assisted with pressure and/or pulsed current. This paper investigates the effect of a small addition of iron on the sintering behaviour of γ-TiAl alloy powder at 1350 °C in vacuum. Thermodynamic calculations using Thermo-Calc and the Ti-alloy database TTTI3 predict that iron is a potential sintering aid for TiAl powder. The relative sintered density (RSD) increased with increasing Fe content and peaked at an addition of 2at.%Fe, at which the RSD increased from ~ 60% theoretical density (TD) without iron to ~ 97%TD. The enhanced densification is attributed to liquid formation induced by iron based on both thermodynamic predictions and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The as-sintered microstructures and phase constituents were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) microanalysis system and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.

Abstract: Gas-atomized Cu-based metallic glass powder was heat-treated in air from below its glass transition temperature (Tg) to well above its crystallization temperature (Tx). Severe oxidation occurred at temperatures > Tx while at temperatures < Tg oxidation was sluggish. The oxidation products were determined and the mechanism is discussed based on the microstructural findings.

Abstract: Effective sintering of titanium requires the use of a high sintering temperature (≥1200 °C), preferably in high vacuum (< 10-2 Pa). This confines the heating and cooling rates to ~ 4 °C/min because of the limited thermal shock resistance of ceramic tube furnaces. Consequently, it leads to lengthy sintering cycles (10-12 hr). This work presents an assessment of microwave (MW) sintering of titanium. Titanium powders in the size ranges of <20 µm, 45-63 µm, and 100-150 µm were used to make green samples with compaction pressures ranging from 200-800 MPa. Sintering was carried out at 1200 °C for 2 hr in a 3 kW MW furnace with a 2.45 GHz multimode cavity under a vacuum of 2-6×10-3 Pa. The characteristics of MW heating of green titanium samples in vacuum are described in terms of the heating rate, vacuum fluctuations, and sparking discharge. The actual MW heating rate achieved from 350 °C to 1200 °C was 34 °C/min. The attendant densities are comparable to those attained by conventional vacuum sintering. Cross-sectional examinations revealed a fairly uniform pore distribution in MW-sintered samples made from either the coarse or fine titanium powder.

Abstract: An investigation has been made on the infiltration behaviour in rapid prototyping of Al alloy parts under different infiltration atmospheres. An Al 6061 alloy preform was first prepared by selective laser sintering. Then the aluminium precursor powders in the preform were converted into AlN to form a skeletal AlN structure, which was subsequently pressureless infiltrated with a molten Al 6061 alloy under nitrogen, argon or vacuum. The pathway of the infiltrant was determined by density measurements in conjunction with metallographic examination and quantitative image analysis. Detailed comparison of the microstructures at the surface and the centre of the as-infiltrated samples indicates that the pathway into the porous preform is dependent on the infiltration atmosphere. Under vacuum, the infiltrant fills the interior of the preform first and then propagates to the surface. In contrast, under nitrogen or argon, the infiltrant penetrates along the surface prior to filling the interior.

Abstract: A TEM study of aluminium nitride formed during sintering of powder injection moulded aluminium under nitrogen is presented. A polycrystalline layer consisting of fine, rod-shaped crystallites of hexagonal AlN formed on the Al powder surfaces. The grain boundaries exhibit a double layer of AlN separated by a thin layer of Al. The structure of the AlN is characterised and its influence upon sintering discussed.

Abstract: An aluminium alloy was sintered using a conventional press and sinter process, at various gas pressures, to observe the effect of sintering gas pressure on the densification rate. Compacts of aluminium alloy 2712 (Al-3.8Cu-1Mg-0.7Si-0.1Sn) were prepared from elemental powders and sintered in a horizontal tube furnace under nitrogen or argon at 590°C for up to 60 minutes, and air cooled. The gas flow was adjusted to achieve specific gas pressures in the furnace. It has been found that increasing the nitrogen pressure at the start of the isothermal holding stage to 160kPa increased the densification rate compared to standard atmospheric pressure sintering. Increasing the nitrogen pressure further, up to 600kPa, had no additional benefit. The densification rate was increased significantly by increasing the gas pressure to 600kPa during both heating and isothermal holding. Under argon the elevated pressure did not increase the densification rate. Results seem to suggest that the beneficial effect of the elevated pressure on the rate of densification is related to nitride formation.

Abstract: Electron beam (EB) direct manufacturing is an additive near-net shape digital fabrication process developed recently. The process offers a promising route for the fabrication of intricate speciality aluminium alloy parts for aircraft and aerospace applications because of the excellent energy coupling between an electron beam and aluminium. As part of a fundamental study on EB manufacturing of Al alloys, this work investigates the effect of the EB processing parameters on the development of the molten pool and the solidification characteristics of Al 2219 and Al 6061 alloys. The samples were processed using a 50kV electron beam gun over a wide range of beam currents (10-40mA) and welding speeds (0.3-0.86m/min) in both the static and oscillation focus modes. In the static focus mode, the molten pool is wedge-shaped; while in the oscillation focus mode, the molten pool is hemispherical, wider and shallower. In both cases, the depth and width of the molten pool increase with increasing beam current but they are less affected by the moving speed of the EB gun in the range 0.3-0.86m/min. Electron beam re-melted and subsequently re-solidified Al 2219 and Al 6061 alloys show microstructural features distinct from those obtained under sand casting and direct chill casting conditions. In particular, fine intermetallic precipitates in the size range 100-200nm are prominent in the equiaxed grains formed in the re-solidified weld beads of Al 6061 compared to the coarse intermetallic particles up to 10m in size prior to EB processing. EB processing offers opportunities for aluminium alloy development.

Abstract: Recent breakthroughs in the sintering of aluminium alloys under nitrogen have opened the way for the in-situ fabrication of Al-AlN composites in a controllable and reproducible fashion over a wide range of volume fractions of AlN. This work reviews the fundamentals for the in-situ fabrication of the Al-AlN composites from metal powders and highlights their technical potential for niche applications because of their excellent resistance to cavitation erosion in water and their unusually low friction coefficient under oil lubrication.

Abstract: The liquid-phase sintering of Ti-Si binary alloys using mixed elemental powders has been explored. Sintering at low liquid contents avoids excessive porosity and bulging of compacts, and leads to development of a densified surface. Compacts made in this way can be HIPped without a container to full or near full densities. Exploiting the surface densification phenomenon may enable cost-effective net shape manufacturing of full density titanium components.

Abstract: A new nitriding method has been devised which requires only a simple vacuum furnace and enables direct nitridation of solid aluminium without any prior surface treatment. It can be used to produce thick aluminium nitride surface layers on aluminium, under nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. A critical element of the process is the use of a magnesium vapour source that reduces/disrupts the natural, protective oxide film on the aluminium surface and facilitates nitriding. The nitride surface layers form through two distinct modes, one growing outward from the aluminium plate surface and the other growing into the aluminium. Studies of the nitride layers utilizing optical microscopy, TEM, SEM, XRD and XPS have been conducted. Details of the composition, structure and growth as well as possible mechanisms for the nitride formation are presented. Understanding of the reaction may have important implications for the production of wear resistant coatings on bulk Al as well as for the production of Al/AlN composites.