Papers by Author: Jean Marc Chaix

Abstract: This paper analyses the effects of five parameters (composition, compaction pressure, heating rate, sintering temperature and duration) on the sintering of a bilayered (cemented carbide/steel) material. Design of experiments is used to reduce the number of experiments and to analyse the results. After sintering, each sample is characterized (difference of shrinkage, shrinkage anisotropy, density and microstructure). Composition, sintering temperature and duration are the three main parameters which control the sintering of bimaterials, their microstructure and the interface quality. The heating rate and the compaction pressure have no significant effect in the tested domain.

Abstract: Microstructure is the key scale to understand and describe sintering mechanisms and their consequences at the macroscopic level. As modeling techniques are continuously developing, the need for input data and comparison with more and more accurate descriptions of the evolution is expected to create a growing demand for quantitative microstructure data. Image analysis is the classic way to get these data. This paper reviews the practical use and progresses of this old technique in the sintering literature during the past and recent years. The place of basic tools and more recent ones, such as 3D imaging, are discussed from a practical point of view accounting from sintering models needs: mean size and size distributions in pores and grains, homogeneity, sintering trajectories…

Abstract: Processing of W-Cu graded materials from attritor-milled W-CuO mixtures is described. The powder reduction steps are investigated by TG and XRD analyses and by microstructural observations (SEM, TEM). Sintering of reduced powder with different compositions is analysed by dilatometry. Sintering behaviour of the graded component processed by co-compaction of a 10/20/30wt%Cu multi-layer material is briefly discussed. Liquid Cu migration is observed and smoothes the composition gradient. Perspectives to control this migration are discussed.

Abstract: A steel/cemented carbide couple is selected to generate a tough/hard two layers material. The sintering temperature and composition are chosen according to phase equilibria data. The choice of optimal sintering conditions needs experimental studies. First results evidence liquid migration from the hard layer to the tough one, leading to porosity in the hard region. The study of microstructure evolution during sintering of the tough material (TEM, SEM, image analysis) evidences the coupled mechanisms of pore reduction and WC dissolution, and leads to temperature and time ranges suitable to limit liquid migration. The sintering of the two layer material is then shown to need further compromises to avoid interface crack formation due to differential densification.