Papers by Keyword: Spark Plasma

Abstract: Aluminum nitride, AlN, and titanium diborite,TiB₂, are covalent-based ceramics with wide technological applications. However, sintering of these ceramics using conventional methods of high pressure requires not only elevated temperatures but also long processing time. This causes excessive grain growth, which impairs strength and hardness. In the present work, 70%AlN-30%TiB₂ ceramic composites were sintered to relatively higher density and hardness by means of the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) at temperatures in the interval from 1500 to 1900°C in order to improve the properties of both compounds and decrease the processing time. The SPS was applied for different sintering temperatures and the effects on density, hardness and surface structure were evaluated. Maximum values obtained for density and hardness were 98.8% of the theoretical value and 13.7 GPa, respectively.

Abstract: Ultrasonic vibration aided electrical discharge machining (UEDM) in gas is a new machining technology developed in recent years. This technology uses air or oxygen as dielectric and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the workpiece during machining. UEDM in gas can avoid environment pollution, the most serious disadvantage of conventional EDM in kerosene-based oil or other dielectric fluids, and it is environmental-friendly. The technology also has virtues of wide applications, high machining efficiency, and simple tool electrodes and so on. In this paper, the formation and transformation of the spark plasma and the mechanism of material removal during a single pulse discharge are introduced.

Abstract: Spark-Plasma Sintering (SPS) involves rapid heating of powder by electric current with simultaneous application of external pressure. Numerous experimental investigations point to the ability of SPS to render highly-dense powder products with the potential of grain size retention. The latter ability is of significance for the consolidation of nano-powder materials where the grain growth is one of the major problems. A model for spark-plasma sintering taking into consideration various mechanisms of material transport is developed. The results of modeling agree satisfactorily with the experimental data in terms of SPS shrinkage kinetics.