Papers by Author: Waldemar Alfredo Monteiro

Abstract: This work presents a comparative study of microstructural and electrical properties of polycrystalline material from two different Cu-Ni alloys: Cu-Ni-Pt and Cu-Ni-Al. The first one of them was produced in electric furnace with voltaic arc and the other was produced by powder metallurgy. The microstructure of the samples was studied by optical microscopy, Vickers micro hardness and x rays powder diffraction. Their electrical conductivity was measured with a milliohmeter Agilent (HP) 4338B. Refinements of the crystalline structure of the samples were performed by the Rietveld method, using the refinement program GSAS. The refinement results and Fourier differences calculations indicate that the copper matrix structure presents not significant distortions by the used amounts of the other metal atoms. In both cases a sequence of thermo mechanical treatments was developed with the intention of increasing the hardness maintaining the electrical conductivity of the alloys. The refinements also allowed a study of the dependence of the micro-structure and the thermo mechanical treatments of the samples. Acknowledgments: Mackpesquisa, CAPES.

Abstract: This work looked for to search out systematically, in scale of laboratory, copper-nickel-aluminum alloys (Cu-Ni-Al) with conventional powder metallurgy processing, in view of the maintenance of the electric and mechanical properties with the intention of getting electric connectors of high performance or high mechanical damping. After cold uniaxial pressing (1000 kPa), sintering (780oC) and suitable homogenization treatments (500oC for different times) under vacuum (powder metallurgy), the obtained Cu-Ni-Al alloys were characterized by optical microscopy, electrical conductivity, Vickers hardness. X rays powder diffraction data were collected for the sintered samples in order to a structural and microstructural analysis. The comparative analysis is based on the sintered density, hardness, macrostructures and microstructures of the samples.

Abstract: The aim of this work, using the powder metallurgy process, is to synthesize metallic alloys with high mechanical strength and high electric conductivity, after melting optimizing and thermal treatments. The Cu-Ni-Cr (wt%) alloys are characterized in their mechanical and electrical properties as well as the obtained microstructure. Through the process of powder metallurgy, contacts and structural parts can be obtained. The alloys elements are added to copper with the intention to improve their strength, ductility and thermal stability, without causing considerable damages in their form, electrical and thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance. The metallic powders were mixed for a suitable time and then they were pressed in a cold uniaxial pressing (1000 kPa). Afterwards, the specimens were sintered in temperatures varying from 700 up to 800oC under vacuum. At last, the samples were homogenized at 550oC under vacuum, for special times. The comparative analysis is based on the sintered density, densification parameter, hardness, macrostructures and microstructures of the samples. The alloys were characterized by optical microscopy, x rays powder diffraction, electrical conductivity and Vickers hardness.

Abstract: The aim of this article was to analyze the microstructural development in samples of Cu-Ni-Sn alloys (weight %) obtained by powder metallurgy (P/M). The powders were mixed for 1/2 hour. After this, they were pressed, in a cold uniaxial pressing (1000 kPa). In the next step the specimens were sintered at temperatures varying from 650 up to 780°C under vacuum. Secondly, the samples were homogenized at 500oC for several special times. The alloys were characterized by optical microscopy, electrical conductivity and Vickers hardness. X rays powder diffraction data were collected for the sintered samples in order to a structural and microstructural analysis. The comparative analysis is based on the sintered density, densification parameter, hardness, macrostructures and microstructures of the samples.

Abstract: Al-Mg based alloys have special attention due to the lightness of the material and certain mechanical properties and recyclability. Normally classified as non-heat-treatable these alloys obtain higher strength either by strain-hardening or by solid solution. The P/M process in the Al-Mg alloys in study leading to fine grain structure after the thermal treatment. The direct observation were made in a JEOL 200C and 2010 TEM combined with mechanical characterization utilizing Vickers microhardness measurements. The samples preparation followed the usual route of metallographic specimen preparation. The understanding of the observed phenomena depends of the fact that materials produced by powder metallurgy present complex interface reactions in a great amount of nucleation sites and a subtle change in the structure of the material causes an important variation in your properties. Alloys in study presented interesting values of properties, with evident technological potential.

Abstract: A localized source of heat, such as that of laser beam, can provide a convenient means of producing a surface layer of altered microstructure. By using surface hardening treatment, wear resistance can be increased. Experiments were performed using a Nd:YAG pulsed laser under different processing conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray mapping (SEM) were employed to observe the effect of laser melting treatment on the microstructural properties of the samples. Depending on the selected laser treatment working conditions, different microstructures characteristics of surface melting can be achieved in the treated zone. Higher microhardness values were found at the treated area showing a superficial hardening of the sample and, consequently, an improvement of the wear resistance of these automotive alloys. The aim of this work is to find the optimal process parameters and to evaluate the characteristics of the laser superficial hardening (LSH) in a pearlitic gray iron and Al-Si alloy used in an automobile industry (bearing and piston materials in automotive industry).

Abstract: Al-Mg based alloys have special attention due to the lightness of the material and certain mechanical properties and reciclability. Normally classified as non-heat-treatable these alloys obtain higher strength either by strain-hardening or by solid solution. The P/M process in the Al-Mg-Zr alloys in study leading to fine grain structure after the thermal treatment. The understanding of the observed phenomena depends of the fact that materials produced by powder metallurgy present complex interface reactions in a great amount of nucleation sites and a subtle change in the structure of the material causes an important variation in your properties. Alloys in study presented interesting values of properties, with evident technological potential.

Abstract: In the last decade light materials have been studied thoroughly and used in components of pieces in the automobile, naval and aerospace industries. Their application makes possible mass reduce, load capacity increase, improvement in the mechanical properties when it is possible. Aluminium-magnesium alloys present good mechanical properties at moderate mechanical efforts (400 to 700 MPa) and good corrosion resistance. The alloys in study (Al-2Mg-0.6Zr and Al-2Mg-1Nb) were made by powder metallurgy (P/M) techniques, employing hot compactation and extrusion processes followed by cold work and thermal treatments. The analysis by SEM and TEM shows an evolution in the microstructure of precipitates with the increase of the time of thermal treatment, according to literature. The distribution of the precipitates in both alloys was observed and identified by EDS microanalysis (SEM and TEM).

Abstract: The main aim of this work is to study the influence of the heat treatment on the transverse rupture strength of three M3:2 high speed steel obtained by differents techniques. PM Sinter 23 obtained by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of gas atomized powders, a vacuum sintered high speed steel obtained by uniaxial cold compaction and liquid phase sintering of M3:2 water atomized powders and a conventional (cast to ingot and hot work) VWM3C were submitted to hardening in order to determine the influence of this treatment on the transverse rupture strength. The two PM high speed steels and the conventional one were submitted to heat treatment of hardening with austenitizing temperatures of 1140, 1160, 1180 and 1200 °C and tempering at 540 and 560 °C. The effectiveness of the heat treatment was determined by hardness tests (Rockwell C hardness). The microstructure was evaluated by scanning eletronic microscopy (SEM). At least five samples of these three high speed steels were manufactured, austenitized, quenched and tempered as described above and fractured in three point bending tests in order to evaluate the influence of this treatment on the transverse rupture strength (TRS).

Abstract: Low-pressure powder injection molding was used to obtain AISI T15 high speed steel parts. The binders used were based on paraffin wax, low density polyethylene and stearic acid. The metals powders were characterized in terms of morphology, particle size distribution. The mixture was injected in the shape of square bar specimens to evaluate the performance of the injection in the green state, and then sintered. The samples were injected under the pressures of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.7MPa and at temperatures varying from 110 to 150°C aiming the optimization of the process. The results of the variation of injection pressure were evaluated by measuring the density of the green parts. Debinding was carried out in two steps: first, the molded part was immersed in heptane to remove the major component of the binder and then heated to remove the remaining binder. A second step debinding and sintering were performed in a single step. This procedure shortened considerably the debinding and sintering time.