Papers by Author: Volker Uhlenwinkel

Abstract: In modern manufacture, like in automotive industry, high quality products and high output rates as well as low costs are achieved by highly efficient processes. Optimized tool design represents a key factor for such processes, leading to long tool life and hence to low tooling costs. Early in the industrial manufacturing chain of roller bearings for example, hot bars are sheared into billets, which are subsequently transported automatically to the first forming stage of a press. The shear blades should have a high wear resistance at high temperatures. In this study the first bi-metal composite shear blade made by spray-forming has been developed and tested in industrial environment. The composite tool has been deposited in a co-spray forming process to directly combine a hard-facing alloy layer with a hot working steel body in order to take advantage of the high microstructural homogeneity and the low segregation generated in spray forming. After machining, heat treating and quality inspection of the new material composite, the hot working tool was used in manufacture to prove its wear resistance and durability. The results show that the interface properties of the composite are of high quality and the material has a lower vulnerability to cracks after use in production than the conventional tool, respectively material. Only the porous zone near the interface leads to fissures which are partially going deep into the tool. Hence the parameters of the co-spray forming process need to be improved.

Abstract: An update and the latest results on molten metal atomization using a Pressure-Gas- Atomizer will be given. This atomizer combines a swirl-pressure atomizer, to generate a liquid hollow cone film and a gas atomizer to atomize the film and/or the fragments of the film. The paper is focused on powder production, but this atomization system is also applicable for deposition purposes. Different alloys (Sn, SnCu) were atomized to study the characteristics of the Pressure- Gas-Atomizer. The powders produced were analyzed by laser diffraction and image processing. Among other parameters, the molten metal mass flow (~140 – 200 kg/h), the gas mass flow and the atomizer design were varied. The results include the effects of these variances on particle size and particle shape.

Abstract: Aluminium Alloys with a 22 wt.-% Mg2Si content were spray formed. This alloy features a low density and is therefore a superior material for lightweight applications. The main problem in the spray forming of this type of alloy was the occurrence of high porosities. First process optimizations have been performed to decrease porosity under a certain level, so that it can be closed by an extrusion process.

Abstract: Porosity in spray-formed materials is an important issue, but the formation of porosity is not completely understood. Many experimental results and some theoretical models have been presented in the past. Nevertheless, the prediction of porosity in a deposit is still not possible today. The paper will give some examples picked from literature, which show some general correlations between process parameters and porosity. These correlations can be helpful to form a basic understanding of the process. Finally it is necessary to know more about the conditions of the droplets and the deposit at the point of impingement. These impacting conditions have to be correlated to the porosity to improve the understanding of the process and to make a prediction possible. Determining the impact conditions is a challenge because usually they are not constant with time and some values are difficult to measure. Our experiments show a strong correlation between the surface temperature of the deposit and the porosity. For IN718 and U720 as-sprayed porosities below 1 vol.% were achieved if the deposit surface temperature is app. 1250 °C. The average impact angle weighted by the local particle mass flux is also an important parameter. The probability of low as-sprayed porosity is high if the average weighted impact angle is below 25° but decreases dramatically for higher impact angles.

Abstract: In Spray Forming, specific enthalpy is a key parameter in the deposition process as it influences the thermal condition of the impinging droplets as well as that of the deposit surface. An empirical model for the distribution of specific enthalpy in the spray cone was developed as an easy to handle alternative to numerical models with which the descriptive partial differential equations are solved numerically. The model results were compared with the experimental data to validate its applicability.