A systematic and scientific approach has been applied to the study of codeformation processing. A series of composites having mechanically-dissimilar phases were developed in which the high temperature flow behavior of the reinforcement material could be varied independent of the matrix. This was accomplished through the use of a series of intermetallic matrix composites (IMCs) as discontinuous reinforcements in an otherwise conventional metal matrix composite. The IMCs are produced using an in-situ reaction synthesis technique, called the XD™ process. The temperature of the exothermic synthesis reaction, called the adiabatic temperature, has been calculated and shown to increase with increasing volume percentage of TiB2 reinforcement. Further, this temperature has been shown to effect the size and spacing of the TiB2, microstructural features which are often used in discontinuous composite strength models. Study of the high temperature flow behavior of the components of the metal/IMC composite is critical to the development of an understanding of codeformation. A series of compression tests performed at 1000° to 1200°C and strain-rates of 10-3 and 10-4 sec-1. Peak flow stresses were used to evaluate the influence of material properties and process conditions. These data were incorporated into phenomenologically-based constitutive equations that have been used to predict the flow behavior. It has been determined that plastic deformation of the IMCs occurs readily, and is largely TiB2 independent, at temperatures approaching the melting point of the intermetallic matrices. / Ph. D.

The effect of three heat treatments on plane-strain fracture toughness (K _Ic), fatigue crack growth rate (da/dN), and tensile behavior of a commercial powder metal alloy, CPM 10V, was investigated. Fracture toughness was increased by increasing the tempering temperatures and decreased by increasing the austenitizing temperature. These changes were related to changes in yield strength and the resulting crack tip plastic zone sizes. Fracture toughness resulting from any of the three heat treatments was inversely related to the hardness. Fatigue crack growth followed the Paris Law for some portion of the curve and crack growth exponents, n, were virtually unchanged by the heat treatment. The linear portion of the growth curve was shifted to higher stress intensity ranges for heat treatments yielding higher fracture toughness. Fatigue crack growth behavior in the high growth region was determined mainly by the fracture toughness of the specific heat treatment. / M.S.

No / Physical and mechanical properties for prealloyed 6061 Al powder processed with and without additions of solid and/or liquid lubricants and sintering aids (Pb, Sn, Ag) are presented. For comparison, both vacuum and nitrogen sintering were carried out on as received (gas atomised) and degassed powder compacts pressed at 340 and 510 MPa. Vacuum degassing of the prealloyed powder provided better compressibility and thus higher green densities than those for the as received powder. Highest sintered densities of ~98-99% of theoretical were obtained for the prealloyed (and degassed) Al compacts by sintering under pure nitrogen with an addition of 0·6 wt-% paraffin wax as solid lubricant or 1·33 vol.-% liquid paraffin, or with a 0·12wt-%Pb addition as sintering aid and no lubricant. It was found that additions of solid lubricants such as lithium stearate and acrawax to both the premixed (elemental) and prealloyed powders provided reasonable green densities of ~94·5-95·5% TD, but had deleterious effect on sintered densities and microstructures, particularly under vacuum sintering. Other lubricants such as zinc stearate, stearic acid and liquid paraffin provided similar green densities, but higher sintered densities and less porous microstructures, particularly by sintering under pure nitrogen. The prealloyed compacts sintered under pure nitrogen consistently provided much higher sintered densities than elementally premixed compacts sintered under pure nitrogen or vacuum. It is therefore concluded that both lubricant type and sintering atmosphere will have a major effect on the sintered properties of the 6061 Al powder. Sintering under pure nitrogen resulted in higher sintered densities as compared with vacuum sintering for this grade of Al alloy. Tensile properties of the degassed and vacuum sintered (and T6 tempered) prealloyed powder compacts were higher than those of the equivalent alloy prepared by elemental mixing and comparable with those of the commercial (wrought) 6061 Al alloys.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the machinability of commercially pure (CP) titanium, manufactured using the press-and-sinter PM process. To this end, CP titanium powder (-200 mesh) was compacted and sintered in vacuum (10-4 torr) for two hours at 1200°C. Small cylindrical samples were compacted at pressures varying from 350 to 600 MPa in order to determine the compressibility of the powder. Following these tests, four larger stepped-cylinder samples were compacted at pressures close to 400 MPa and sintered under similar conditions. These samples had sintered densities varying between 3.82 and 4.41 g/cm3. They were used to evaluate the machinability of the sintered titanium using face turning machining tests. The samples were machined dry, using uncoated carbide (WC-Co) cutting tool. Cutting speeds between 60-150 m/min were evaluated while keeping the feed rate and depth of cut constant at 0.15 mm/rev and 0.5 mm, respectively. The final machined surface finish and the tool wear experienced during the face turning machining tests were monitored in order to evaluate PM titanium’s machining performance. This study showed that it is possible to use the press-and-sinter PM process with CP titanium powder, with a particle size of less than 75 μm (-200 mesh), to manufacture sintered titanium. However, particle shape influences the compressibility of the powder and pressing parts of larger volume, such as the machining test sample shape, is challenging when using such small particle size powder. Processing conditions, such as compaction pressure, sintering temperature and sintering time, influence the sintered density. Results from the machinability tests show that tool wear increases with a decrease in the porosity of the sintered titanium. A more porous sintered material has both lower strength and thermal conductivity. As these factors have opposing effects on the machinability of materials, it is concluded that the strength of the sintered titanium has a stronger influence on its machinability than the thermal conductivity. The cutting tool wear was uniform but showed indications of crater wear. The machined surface of the denser parts had minimal defects compared to less dense parts. Chip shape is long for the dense parts, and spiral for the less dense parts. The chips formed were all segmented, which is typical for titanium. The machinability of the sintered CP titanium was compared to that of wrought titanium alloys. As expected, it was found that the machinability of the sintered titanium was poor in comparison. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die masjineerbaarheid van kommersieel suiwer (KS) titaan, wat deur die pers-en-sinter poeiermetallurgie (PM) metode vervaardig word, te ondersoek. Om hierdie doel te bereik, is KS titaan poeier (-200 ogiesdraad) gekompakteer en gesinter in ‘n vakuum (10-4 torr) teen 1200°C vir 2 ure. Klein silindriese monsters is tussen drukke van 350en 600 MPa gekompakteer om die samedrukbaarheid van die poeier te bepaal. Na aanleiding van hierdie toetse, is vier groter trapvormige-silinder monsters by drukke naby aan 400MPa gekompakteer en onder soortgelyke omstandighede gesinter. Hierdie monsters het gesinterde digthede tussen 3.82 en 4.41 g/cm3 gehad. Hulle is gebruik om die masjineerbaarheid van die gesinterde titaan te ondersoek deur middel van vlak-draai masjineringstoetse. Die monsters is sonder smeermiddel gemasjineer met onbedekte karbied (WC-Co) snygereedskap. Snysnelhede tussen 60 – 150 m/min is geëvalueer terwyl die voertempo en diepte van die snit konstant by 0.15 mm/rev en 0.5 mm, onderskeidelik, gehou is. Die finale gemasjineerde oppervlak afwerking en gereedskapsslytasie tydens die vlak-draai masjinering toets is van die faktore wat gemonitor is sodat PM titaan se optrede tydens masjinering geëvalueer kan word. Hierdie studie wys dat diepers-en-sinter metode wel met KS titaan poeier, met ‘n partikel grootte van minder as 75 μm (-200 maas), gebruik kan word om gesinterde titaan te vervaardig. Die partikelgrootte beïnvloed wel die samedrukbaarheid van die poeier. Die samedrukking van parte met groter volume, soos bv die masjinerings toetsmonster, is uitdagend wanneer klein partikelgrootte poeier gebruik word. Proses omstandighede, soos kompaksie druk, sinteringstemperatuur en sinteringstyd, beïnvloed die gesinterde digtheid. Resultate van die masjineerbaarheidstoetse wys dat beitelslytasie toeneem met ‘n afname in porositeit van die gesinterede titaan. ‘n Meer poreus gesinterde materiaal het beide laer sterkte en termiese geleidingsvermoë. Aangesien hierdie faktore teenoorgestelde uitwerkings op masjineerbaarheid het, word dit dan afgelei dat die sterkte van gesinterde titaan ‘n groter invloed het op sy masjineerbaarheid as die termiese geleidingsvermoë. Die beitel se slytasie is hoofsaahlik, maar het tekens van kraterslytasie getoon. Die gemasjineerde oppervlak van die meer digte onderdele of toetsmonters het min gebreke gehad in vergelyking met die minder digte dele. Die vorm van die spaanders is lank vir digte parte, en spiraalvormig vir minder digte toetsmonsters. Die spaanders wat gevorm het, was almal gesegmenteerd, wat tipies is vir titaan. Die masjineerbaarheid van die gesinterde KS titaan is met dié van gesmede titaanallooie vergelyk. Soos verwag is, is gevind dat die masjineerbaarheid van die gesinterde titaan in vergelyking swak is.

Cette étude a pour but de développer de nouveaux matériaux composites à matrice métallique renforcés par des nanotubes de carbone (CNT) et présentant des propriétés mécaniques améliorées. La majeure partie de ce travail a été réalisée en utilisant des CNT multi-feuillets synthétisés par déposition chimique en phase vapeur en tant que renforts et un alliage d'aluminium AA5083 comme matrice. Des composites CNT/AA5083 denses et homogènes ont été élaborés par le procédé de métallurgie des poudres suivi par une étape de mise en forme, l'extrusion. L'homogénéité de la dispersion des CNT à l'échelle microscopique dans les composites s'avère être un paramètre clé pour l'amélioration des propriétés mécaniques. Ceci a été réalisé par broyage planétaire à haute énergie impliquant des mécanismes de déformation plastique et de soudure à froid et a été démontré à l'aide d'études cartographiques par spectroscopie Raman. La limite d'élasticité, la résistance à la traction et la micro-dureté des composites homogènes ont été augmentées jusqu'à respectivement 55%, 61% et 33% en comparaison avec l'alliage sans CNT et préparé dans les mêmes conditions. Le coefficient de dilatation thermique a été quant à lui réduit de 10%. Les propriétés optimales ont été obtenues pour des concentrations en CNT de 1,5 % en masse. Le renforcement du matériau a été principalement attribué au transfert de charge à l'interface CNT/matrice. / The overall goal of this thesis is to process new metal matrix composites reinforced by CNT with enhanced mechanical properties. The main part of this work was achieved using CVD-grown multi-walled CNT as reinforcement and a high-performance light aluminium alloy, AA5083, as the matrix. Dense and homogeneous CNT/AA5083 composites were processed by the powder metallurgy route, followed by an extrusion forming process. A homogeneous dispersion of the CNT in the composites at the micron scale appears to be a key parameter for improving the mechanical properties. This could be achieved using high energy ball milling through the mechanisms of plastic deformation and cold-welding, and was demonstrated from Raman spectroscopy cartography studies. Yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and micro-hardness of the homogeneous composites were increased by up to 55%, 61% and 33%, with respect to raw alloys processed in the same conditions, and the coefficient of thermal expansion was decreased by 10%. Optimal results were obtained with a CNT con-tent of 1.5 wt.-%. The material strengthening was principally attributed to load transfer at the CNT/matrix interface.

Atualmente, quando se tem a necessidade de nitretar peças produzidas pela metalurgia do pó, usa-se a nitretação a plasma. Apesar de ser um processo de alto custo, com diversas dificuldades operacionais e de ajuste de processo, a nitretação a plasma é o único processo viável para nitretar esses materiais por ter uma ação apenas superficial, não apresentando ação nitretante no interior dos poros. Nos processos de nitretação a gás e banho de sais, o meio nitretante penetra na porosidade (interconectada) dos materiais sinterizados, havendo assim a formação de camada branca em uma grande profundidade da peça (ou mesmo na peça toda), gerando problemas de deformação e fragilização do componente. Este trabalho teve por objetivo a aplicação do processo shot peening em peças sinterizadas com a finalidade de fechar a porosidade superficial das peças e estudar seu comportamento sob o processo de nitretação a gás. O estudo verifica que o material sinterizado submetido à nitretação gasosa permitiu a entrada do meio nitretante pelos poros abertos e interconectados promovendo a formação de camada branca no interior dos poros de praticamente todo o volume da peça. Essa camada branca no interior do material fragiliza o componente e inviabiliza sua utilização como componente em praticamente qualquer aplicação industrial. As peças sinterizadas jateadas com granalhas de aço antes da nitretação também permitiram o acesso do meio nitretante no interior do componente, porém, sem potencial suficiente para a formação de camada branca. As amostras jateadas apresentaram apenas agulhas de nitretos formados durante a nitretação. / Plasma nitriding is the process used to nitriding components produced by powder metallurgy. Although its high coast and operational difficulties, this is the best process for this kind of materials because the nitring occurs only in the surface. In gas and liquid nitriding processes the nitriding atmosphere goes through interconnected porous and the white layer forms not only on the surface but around internal porous resulting in embrittlement and deformation of the component. The aim of this work was evaluate the gas nitriding behavior of iron samples as received and previously submitted to shot peening process in order to close superficial porosities in a gas nitriding process. The results have shown that during gas nitriding the samples as received, did not present white layer at the surface but around the porous in the bulk of the sample. This fact suggested that the gaseous atmosphere goes through interconnected porous. This white layer causes the embrittlement of the component and its use in industrial application is not recommended. Otherwise, samples previously submitted to shot peening process before nitriding showed an external white layer but also permitted the access of nitriding atmosphere to the bulk of the sample, but in this case the nitriding potential was not sufficient to form white layer around internal porous.

The goal of this research is to show the feasibility of detecting density variations in green-state powder metallurgy (P/M) compacts from surface voltage measurements. By monitoring a steady electric current flow through the sample and recording the voltages over the surface, valu-able information is gathered leading to the prediction of the structural health of the compacts. Unlike prior research that concentrated on the detection of surface-breaking and subsurface de-fects, the results presented in this thesis target the density prediction throughout the volume of the sample. The detection of density variations is achieved by establishing a correlation between the conductivity and their respective density. The data obtained from the surface measurements is used as part of an inversion algorithm, calculating the conductivity distribution, and subse-quently the density within the compact. In a first step, the relationship between conductivity and density of green-state P/M com-pacts was investigated. Tests were conducted for a number of parts of various powder mixtures. In all cases a clear correlation between conductivity and density could be established, indicating that measurements of electric conductivity could indeed be exploited in an effort to render valid information about the density of the sample under test. We found a linear correlation for non-lubricated parts and a non-linear behavior for lubricated samples. Specifically, it was found that the conductivity increases with increasing density only up to a maximum value obtained at ap-proximately 6.9g/cm3. Interestingly, any additional density increase leads to a reduction of the conductivity. This behavior was confirmed to be inherent in all powder mixtures with lubricants. The thesis research is able to provide a physical model and a mathematical formulation describ-ing this counter-intuitive phenomenon. A finite element solver in conjunction with an inversion algorithm was then implemented to study arbitrarily shaped part geometries. Based on the principles of electric impedance imag-ing, the developed algorithm faithfully reconstructs the density distribution from surface voltage measurements. The feasibility of the instrumentation approach for both simple and complex parts can be demonstrated using a new sensor concept and measurement arrangement. Measurements were performed on both geometrically simple and complex parts.

O presente trabalho objetiva o estudo, obtenção e caracterização da liga magnética macia Fe-Si-P produzida por metalurgia do pó convencional visando à futura aplicação em núcleos de máquinas elétricas, atualmente fabricados por estampagem de chapas. Escolheu-se com base em testes prévios a liga Fe-3%Si-0,75%P. Para a obtenção da liga, foi utilizada a rota de mecâno-síntese com diferentes tempos de moagem: 1 h, 3 h e 9 h, além do material sem moagem para comparação. Na sequência compactaram-se uniaxialmente a frio os corpos de prova a 600 MPa seguido de sinterização a 1150 ºC em atmosfera de gás argônio. A análise da influência do tempo de moagem nas propriedades físicas, mecânicas, magnéticas e elétricas no material sinterizado foi a meta central deste trabalho. A caracterização das propriedades físicas mostrou uma redução da densidade aparente do pó moído, um aumento da distribuição do tamanho de partícula e redução do mesmo com o aumento do tempo de moagem. No que se refere às propriedades magnéticas, evidenciou-se que o material moído durante 3h apresentou os melhores resultados de indução de saturação (1,15 T), apesar do aumento na coercitividade já previsto devido ao processo de mecâno-síntese. Além disso, a difração de raios-X detectou a formação da liga através da solução sólida dos elementos P e Si na matriz ferrita. A análise metalográfica revelou a diminuição do tamanho de grãos com o aumento do tempo de moagem. Por fim, realizou-se a simulação do protótipo para análise do desempenho do material visando à aplicação futura. Esta, realizada pelo método de elementos finitos em um núcleo de um gerador síncrono com ímãs permanentes de NdFeB resultou em uma densidade de fluxo (1,95T) para o material com 3h de moagem e um torque de apenas 13% inferior se comparado ao gerador convencional produzido com núcleos de chapas de aço elétrico. / The present work aims to study, obtaining and characterization of Fe-Si-P soft magnetic alloy produced by conventional powder metallurgy intended for the future application in electrical machines cores, currently manufactured by sheet metal forming. The alloy Fe-3%Si-0,75%P was chosen based on previous tests. To obtain the alloy was used mechanical alloying route with different milling times: 1 h, 3 h and 9 h, and the material without milling for comparison. In the sequence, the specimens were uniaxially cold compacted at 600 MPa followed by sintering at 1150 ° C in an atmosphere of argon. The analysis of the influence of milling time on the physical, mechanical, magnetic and electric properties of the sintered material was the central goal of this work. The physical properties characterization showed a reduction in the bulk apparent density of the milled powder, an increase in particle size distribution and reduction thereof with increasing milling time. As regards magnetic properties, it was observed that the milled material for 3 hours showed the best results of saturation induction (1.15 T), despite the increase in the coercivity as expected due to the inherent mechanical alloying process. Furthermore, the X-ray diffraction detected the alloy formation through the solid solution of P and Si elements in the ferrite matrix. The metallographic analysis showed the decrease in grain size with increasing milling time. Finally, were performed a simulation prototype for analysis of material performance in order to future implement. This, held by finite element method on a synchronous generator core with NdFeB permanent magnets, resulting in a flux density (1.95 T) for the material with 3h of milling and a torque of only 13% lower compared to conventional generator produced with cores of electric steel sheet.

Com a crescente ideia de sustentabilidade, surge a necessidade de utilização de recursos renováveis e reaproveitamento de resíduos gerados em processos industriais. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a utilização da cinza pesada oriunda da queima do carvão em usinas termoelétricas no desenvolvimento de um Cermet. O compósito Cinza-Ferro (Cz-10Fe) foi obtido por metalurgia do pó e é composto de cinza pesada moída com adição de 10% em massa de pó de ferro puro. A adição do ferro é justificada para melhoria das propriedades mecânicas do material cerâmico. O compósito foi aplicado como meio suporte para biofilme em filtro biológico percolador, no pós-tratamento de efluentes domésticos. Foram realizados estudos com os principais componentes da cinza, tais como a sílica (SiO2), em forma de pó de quartzo, e a alumina (Al2O3) na versão comercial para avaliação da interação dos mesmos com o ferro e avaliação de suas propriedades mecânicas sob influência da variação da temperatura de sinterização A cinza pesada, obtida na Usina Tractebel de Charqueadas, foi moída durante 2, 4 e 8 horas para determinação do tamanho de partícula ideal para o compósito. Após caracterização, foi selecionada cinza moída por 2 horas para a produção dos compósitos para aplicação. A aplicação se deu utilizando um protótipo no pós-tratamento de efluentes da Estação de Tratamento de Esgotos (ETE) da COMUSA visando a remoção de Demanda Química de Oxigênio (DQO). Obteve-se incremento na eficiência do processo, reduzindo a DQO do efluente final em média 9%, indicando a viabilidade de uso do protótipo no pós- tratamento de esgotos domésticos, com porosidade aproximada de 20%, obtidos na cinza moída por 2 horas e sinterizado com ferro, como meio suporte para biofilme em filtro biológico percolador. / With the crescent idea of sustainability, there is a necessity for the use of renewable resources and the reuse of waste generated in industrial processes. In this work the use of the coal bottom ash from thermoelectric plants was evaluated in the development of a Cermet. The composite Ash-Iron (Cz-10Fe) was obtained by powder metallurgy and is composed of ground heavy ash with addition of 10% by mass of pure iron powder. The addition of iron is justified to improve the mechanical properties of the ceramic material. The composite was applied as biofilm packing media in trickling filter in the post-treatment of domestic effluents. Studies with the main components of the ash, such as silica (SiO2), in the form of quartz powder, and alumina (Al2O3) in the commercial version were carried out to evaluate their interaction with iron and evaluation of their mechanical properties under influence of the sintering temperature variation The bottom ash obtained at Tractebel from Charqueadas was milling for 2, 4 and 8 hours to determine the ideal particle size for the composite. After characterization, milled ash for 2 hours was selected for the production of the composites for application. The application was done using a prototype in the post-treatment of effluents from the Wastewater Treatment Station (ETE) of COMUSA aiming at the removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). The efficiency of the process was obtained by reducing the COD of the final effluent by a mean of 9%, indicating the viability of the utilization the prototype in the post-treatment of domestic sewage, with approximate porosity of 20%, obtained in ground ash for 2 hours and sintered with iron powder, in biofilm packing media in trickling filter.

Shape memory alloys (SMA) offer several advantages over traditional electro-mechanical devices, including: smooth, silent, clean operation; linear actuation; high power/weight ratio; scalability; and reduced part counts. These unique characteristics make them an attractive option when developing actuators, particularly at the meso- and micro-scales. However, SMAs do not typically display cyclic actuation and, therefore, require some reset force or bias mechanism in order to achieve this behaviour. Additionally, the micro-assembly of SMA material with a reset mechanism becomes increasingly difficult as the dimensions of actuators are scaled down. Therefore, actuators have been developed in which the actuation and reset mechanism are fabricated from a single piece of material. These actuators are referred to as monolithic actuators. Monolithic actuators are fabricated from a single piece of SMA material in which local annealing is used to selectively impart the shape memory effect (SME), while the remainder of the material acts as the bias mechanism. This work proposes an extension to monolithic actuators that locally varies the material composition of the monolithic component to exhibit different mechanical properties in select regions. This eliminates the need for local annealing by introducing regions of material unaffected by the annealing process. Additionally, incorporating regions of superelastic material to act as the bias mechanism greatly increases the actuator’s range of motion. These actuators are referred to as hybrid monolithic actuators. The creation of hybrid monolithic SMA actuators requires the development of both a fabrication technique and design tool. Varying the composition locally is accomplished by utilizing powder metallurgy fabrication techniques, specifically tape casting. Tapes of different compositions are cut, stacked, and sintered resulting in a monolithic component with mechanical properties that vary spatially. Tape casting NiTi from elemental powders is studied in this work, and tape recipes and sintering profiles are developed. In order to model the SMA behaviour of complex geometries, a finite element implementation of an existing lumped-element SMA model is developed. This model is used to design and simulate a prototype hybrid monolithic actuator. The prototype is fabricated and its performance used to illustrate the advantages of hybrid design over typical monolithic actuators.