In Situ Observations of the Densification Behavior of WC-FeAl-B Composites during Liquid Phase Sintering

Abstract:

The densification behavior of WC composites based on iron aluminide binder was investigated using laser scanning confocal mi¬croscopy (LSCM). Doped Fe60Al40 alloys with boron levels ranging from 0 to 0.1 wt% were used as the aluminide binders. The aluminide binders were prepared using controlled atmosphere ring grinding and then blended with WC powder. The composite powder compacted in an alumina crucible and held in a platinum holder in the confocal microscope. The temperature increased from ambient temperature up to 1500 °C under high purity argon. The presence of boron was found to facilitate compaction of the composites and improve the wetting between WC and FeAl binder during liquid phase sintering. Increasing the amount of boron in the binder resulted in the melting of binder at lower temperature and increasing of the compacting of the intermetallic tungsten carbide composites.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 638-642)
• Pages: 921-926
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.638-642.921
• Online since: January 2010
• Authors: M. Ahmadian, M. Reid, Rian Dippenaar, Tara Chandra, David Wexler, Andrzej Calka
• Keywords: Aluminide, Boron, Confocal Microscopy, Densification, WC Composites

References

[1] K. P, Plucknett: Cer. Eng. & Sci. Proceedings, 1996. 17(3): pp.314-321.

[2] R. Subramanian and J.H. Schneibel: Mate. Sci. and Eng. A, (1998), 244(1): p.103.

[3] A. Mosbah, D. Wexler and A. Calka: Mater Sci. Forum, (2001), 360-362: p.649.

[4] T.N. Tiegs, P.A. Menchhofer, K.P. Plucknett, K.B. Alexander, P.F. Becher and S.B. Waters: P/M in Aerospace Defense and Demanding Applications Proceedings of the International Conference on Powder Metallurgy in Aerospace, Defense and Demanding Applications (Metal Powder Industries Federation, Princeton, NJ, USA 1995), p.211.

DOI: 10.2172/102180

[5] V.K. Sikka: Properties, processing and applications of iron aluminides, M.A. Crimp, J.H. Schneibel Editors (TMS 1994), p.3.

[6] G.S. Upadhyaya: Sintered metallic and ceramic materials: preparation, properties and applications. 2000, Chichester: UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

[7] R.M. German: Liquid phase sintering. 1985, New York: Plenum Press.

[8] Ward-Close, R. Minor, and P.J. Doorbar: Intermetallic-matrix composites, a review. Inter., 1996. 4(3): pp.217-229.

DOI: 10.1016/0966-9795(95)00037-2

[9] M. Inoue, H. Nagao, K. Suganuma and K. Niihara: Mater. Sci. and Eng. A, (1998), 258(1-2): p.298.

[10] D. Phelan, M. Reid, and R. Dippenaar: Computational Mater. Sci. 34 (2005) 282-289.

[11] J.H. Schneibel: Intermetallics, 1997. 5(1): p.61.

[12] A.K. Misra: Metallurgical Trans. A, 1990. 21A: p.441.

[13] W.A. Kaysser, Liquid Phase Sintering. Powder metallurgy: an overview, ed. J.W. I. Jenkins. 1991, London: Institute of Metals.

[14] M. Ahmadian: Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wollongong, (2006).