2004 international Conference on Powder
MP06
Highlight of P/M Development at MTEC S. Sawetkochakul, W. Maturavech, N. Tosangthum, O. Coovattanachai, M. Morakotjinda, T. Yotkaew, A. Daraphan, R. Krataitong, B. Vetayanugul and R. Tongsri Powder Metallurgy Research and Development Unit (PM_RDU) National Metal and Materials Technology Center, Pathumthani, 12120 Phone 0-2564-6500, Fax. 0-2564-6403, E-Mail: [email protected]
Abstract
3. R&D-related activity
Powder metallurgy (P/M) is one of several materials-
(1) Metal powder production plant [1, 2]
related disciplines that are important for research and
Owing to the reasons such as, design and assembly
development (R&D) and industry. Engineering parts,
simplicity, powder applications and operating cost, gas
made by using P/M technology, have several benefits
atomization was selected for study. A pilot-scale gas
including materials and energy saving and high
atomizer (Fig. 1(a)) was designed and built. The atomizer
productivity. An R&D unit, namely PM_RDU, was set
is able to produce low melting-point metal powders such
up in MTEC in 2002. Since then several R&D related
as tin (Fig. 1(b)) and tin alloy powders.
activities have been carried out. The activities include developments
of
metal powder
production plant,
engineering P/M parts prototypes, high-density and highstrength P/M stainless steels, controlled porous materials, duplex stainless steels, stainless steel-base composites and P/M related machines. To perform these activities,
(a) (b) Fig. 1 A metal powder production plant (a) and
MTEC personnel at PM_RDU can enhance their
spherical tin powder particles (b).
capability on design and manufacturing of engineering
(2) Development of engineering P/M parts prototypes Design and manufacturing activity can be reflected by
P/M parts.
two kinds of P/M parts prototypes developed. First is a non-commercialized P/M parts prototype, for example
1. Introduction P/M involves production of metal powders and
the 409L P/M sensor boss (Fig. 2(a)). The second is a
manufacturing of parts from the powders. The simple
commercialized P/M parts prototype, for example 316L
P/M process consists of powder mixing, compacting and
P/M nuts for machinery structure (Fig. 2(b)).
sintering.
Although
P/M
parts
manufacturing
is
considered as ‘economy-scale manufacturing’, it has several benefits including materials and energy saving, high productivity and low production cost.
2. Outline of P/M development at MTEC PM_RDU, like other R&D units at MTEC, has
(a) 409L P/M sensor
(b) 316L P/M nuts for
boss [3]
machinery structure
Fig. 2 Examples of engineering P/M parts prototypes.
responsibility for not only carrying out R&D activities,
(3) Development of high-density and high-strength P/M
but also for developing human resources, transferring
stainless steels [4-7]
relevant technology to industry and setting up suitable
Admixing of Ni powder was found to improve some
infrastructure. In this paper, only R&D-related activities
mechanical properties of sintered 316L stainless steel. A
carried out at PM_RDU are overviewed.
metal powder, designated as PMTEC1 and developed at
MP06 MTEC, was employed as a new additive powder for
than that of the sintered 304L or 410L alloys. Because of
improvement of the sintered 316L stainless steel. It was
lower shrinkage, sintered density of the duplex materials
found that the factors, such as (i) N2 content in the
was lower than that of the sintered 304L or 410L alloys.
atmosphere, (ii) Ni content and (iii) PMTEC1 content,
The duplex materials exhibited increase of ultimate
showed some effects on some properties. Particularly,
tensile strength, yield strength and hardness with scarified
addition of the PMTEC1 significantly increased sintered
elongation, when the 410L content was increased.
density, yield strength and hardness with severely
Improved strengths and hardness is resulted from a new
sacrificed elongation (Fig. 3).
(N) phase formation (Fig. 5). The materials prepared from 25%304L+75%410L showed the most significant increase of strength and hardness.
Fig. 3 Effect of atmosphere compositions and powder admixing on sintered density of sintered materials. (4) Development of porous materials with controlled porosity [8, 9] P/M process is considered as a unique production
A = austenite, F= ferrite and N = new phase
route for producing porous materials. Stainless steel 316L
Fig. 5 Microstructure of novel stainless steel made
powders, with spherical and irregular shapes, have been
from 304L and 410L stainless steel powders.
employed for this investigation. It was found that after
(6) Development of stainless steel-base composites [12]
sintering the irregular powder yielded a material with
An Al2O3-reinforced 316L composite was prepared
higher density (less porosity) than the spherical powder
via the ‘press and sinter’ process. It was found that
(Fig. 4). Powder particle size was also observed to affect
addition of Al2O3 resulted in slight decrease of sintered
porosity amount and size and mechanical properties.
density, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation, but slight increase of hardness. Decrease of strength was attributed to sintering prohibition by Al2O3 particles and poor Al2O3 particle distribution (Fig. 6). The 316L-Al2O3 composite, with reduced weight and increased hardness, might be applied as a tooling material.
Fig. 4 Porosity in porous 316L made from different powder shape and size. (5) Development of duplex stainless steels [10, 11] Properties of sintered duplex stainless steels, prepared from mixtures of different mass ratios of 304L and 410L powders, were investigated and compared to those of sintered 304L and 410L steels. It was found that
Fig. 6 SEM micrograph of 316L-Al2O3 composite. (7) Development of P/M-related machines [13]
after
A powder compacting press (Fig. 7) was designed
sintering, of the sintered duplex stainless steels was lower
and manufactured. The press consisted of a fixed die
dimensional
change,
particularly
shrinkage
MP06 plate, a fixed core-rod plate and two hydraulic cylinders
[4] N. Tosangthum, et. al., “SINTERING OF 316L + Ni
attached to movable upper and lower punches. The design
POWDER
allowed the press to be worked as a “single-action” or
Metallurgy and Particulate Materials (Compiled by W.
“double-action” pressing. The maximum load of the
Brian James and Russell A. Chernenkoff), Metal Powder
upper punch was 100 metric ton. Traveling of upper and
Industries Federation, 2004, pp. 5_51 – 5_60.
lower punches was controlled by a programmable logic
[5] N. Tosangthum, et. al., “Dimensional Change During
control (PLC) circuit.
P/M Processing of the 316L + Ni + Cu Alloys”, The
COMPACTS”,
Advances
in
Powder
Third Thailand Materials Science and Technology Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, August 10-11, 2004. [6] N. Tosangthum, et. al., “Effect of Admixing Ni and Cu Powders on Property of Sintered 316L Alloy”, Chiang Mai J. Sci., (In press). [7] N. Tosangthum, et. al., “Density and Strength Improvement of Sintered 316L Stainless Steel”, Chiang Mai J. Sci., (In press). A 100-ton hydraulic press Fig. 7 Illustration of a P/M-related machine developed by PM_RDU.
[8] S. Morakotjinda, et. al., “Effect of Particle Size on Properties of Porous 316L Stainless Steel”, NSTDA Annual Conference 2005, Pathum Thani, Thailand, March 28-30, 2005.
4. Conclusions The activities include developments of metal powder production plant, engineering P/M parts prototypes, highdensity and high-strength P/M stainless steels, controlled porous materials, duplex stainless steels, stainless steelbase composites and P/M related machines.
[9] U. Kwanthong, et. al., “A Unique Production Route for
Porous
Materials”, The
19th Conference
of
Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005, Phuket, Thailand. [10] N. Kuljittipipat, et. al., “Mechanical Properties of Austenitic + Ferritic Stainless Steels Prepared by Powder Metallurgy”, NSTDA Annual Conference 2005, Pathum
Acknowledgments The authors express their sincere gratitude to the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), for financial support.
Thani, Thailand, March 28-30, 2005. [11] R. Jittavikul, et. al., “Mechanical Properties of Sintered Dual Phase Stainless Steel Prepared from 304L and 410L Powders”, The 19th Conference of Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005,
References [1] K. Fakpan, et. al., “Production of Tin Powder by a Gas Atomisation”, NSTDA Annual Conference 2005, Pathum Thani, Thailand, March 28-30, 2005. [2] C. Dungkratok, et. al., “Analysis of Tin Powder Production Using a Pilot Gas Atomiser”, The 19th Conference of Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005, Phuket, Thailand. [3] R. Tongsri, et. al., “Development of P/M sensor bosses from stainless steel powders”, Final report to MTEC, 2005.
Phuket, Thailand. [12] A. Panumas, et. al., “Preparation of 316L-Al2O3 Composite”, The 19th Conference of Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005, Phuket, Thailand. [13] R. Krataitong, et. al., “Design and Manufacturing of a Powder Compacting Press”, The 19th Conference of Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005, Phuket, Thailand.
Highlight of P/M Development at MTEC S. Sawetkochakul, W. Maturavech, N. Tosangthum, O. Coovattanachai, M. Morakotjinda, T. Yotkaew, A. Daraphan, R. Krataitong, B. Vetayanugul and R. Tongsri Powder Metallurgy Research and Development Unit (PM_RDU) National Metal and Materials Technology Center, Pathumthani, 12120 Phone 0-2564-6500, Fax. 0-2564-6403, E-Mail: [email protected]
Abstract
3. R&D-related activity
Powder metallurgy (P/M) is one of several materials-
(1) Metal powder production plant [1, 2]
related disciplines that are important for research and
Owing to the reasons such as, design and assembly
development (R&D) and industry. Engineering parts,
simplicity, powder applications and operating cost, gas
made by using P/M technology, have several benefits
atomization was selected for study. A pilot-scale gas
including materials and energy saving and high
atomizer (Fig. 1(a)) was designed and built. The atomizer
productivity. An R&D unit, namely PM_RDU, was set
is able to produce low melting-point metal powders such
up in MTEC in 2002. Since then several R&D related
as tin (Fig. 1(b)) and tin alloy powders.
activities have been carried out. The activities include developments
of
metal powder
production plant,
engineering P/M parts prototypes, high-density and highstrength P/M stainless steels, controlled porous materials, duplex stainless steels, stainless steel-base composites and P/M related machines. To perform these activities,
(a) (b) Fig. 1 A metal powder production plant (a) and
MTEC personnel at PM_RDU can enhance their
spherical tin powder particles (b).
capability on design and manufacturing of engineering
(2) Development of engineering P/M parts prototypes Design and manufacturing activity can be reflected by
P/M parts.
two kinds of P/M parts prototypes developed. First is a non-commercialized P/M parts prototype, for example
1. Introduction P/M involves production of metal powders and
the 409L P/M sensor boss (Fig. 2(a)). The second is a
manufacturing of parts from the powders. The simple
commercialized P/M parts prototype, for example 316L
P/M process consists of powder mixing, compacting and
P/M nuts for machinery structure (Fig. 2(b)).
sintering.
Although
P/M
parts
manufacturing
is
considered as ‘economy-scale manufacturing’, it has several benefits including materials and energy saving, high productivity and low production cost.
2. Outline of P/M development at MTEC PM_RDU, like other R&D units at MTEC, has
(a) 409L P/M sensor
(b) 316L P/M nuts for
boss [3]
machinery structure
Fig. 2 Examples of engineering P/M parts prototypes.
responsibility for not only carrying out R&D activities,
(3) Development of high-density and high-strength P/M
but also for developing human resources, transferring
stainless steels [4-7]
relevant technology to industry and setting up suitable
Admixing of Ni powder was found to improve some
infrastructure. In this paper, only R&D-related activities
mechanical properties of sintered 316L stainless steel. A
carried out at PM_RDU are overviewed.
metal powder, designated as PMTEC1 and developed at
MP06 MTEC, was employed as a new additive powder for
than that of the sintered 304L or 410L alloys. Because of
improvement of the sintered 316L stainless steel. It was
lower shrinkage, sintered density of the duplex materials
found that the factors, such as (i) N2 content in the
was lower than that of the sintered 304L or 410L alloys.
atmosphere, (ii) Ni content and (iii) PMTEC1 content,
The duplex materials exhibited increase of ultimate
showed some effects on some properties. Particularly,
tensile strength, yield strength and hardness with scarified
addition of the PMTEC1 significantly increased sintered
elongation, when the 410L content was increased.
density, yield strength and hardness with severely
Improved strengths and hardness is resulted from a new
sacrificed elongation (Fig. 3).
(N) phase formation (Fig. 5). The materials prepared from 25%304L+75%410L showed the most significant increase of strength and hardness.
Fig. 3 Effect of atmosphere compositions and powder admixing on sintered density of sintered materials. (4) Development of porous materials with controlled porosity [8, 9] P/M process is considered as a unique production
A = austenite, F= ferrite and N = new phase
route for producing porous materials. Stainless steel 316L
Fig. 5 Microstructure of novel stainless steel made
powders, with spherical and irregular shapes, have been
from 304L and 410L stainless steel powders.
employed for this investigation. It was found that after
(6) Development of stainless steel-base composites [12]
sintering the irregular powder yielded a material with
An Al2O3-reinforced 316L composite was prepared
higher density (less porosity) than the spherical powder
via the ‘press and sinter’ process. It was found that
(Fig. 4). Powder particle size was also observed to affect
addition of Al2O3 resulted in slight decrease of sintered
porosity amount and size and mechanical properties.
density, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation, but slight increase of hardness. Decrease of strength was attributed to sintering prohibition by Al2O3 particles and poor Al2O3 particle distribution (Fig. 6). The 316L-Al2O3 composite, with reduced weight and increased hardness, might be applied as a tooling material.
Fig. 4 Porosity in porous 316L made from different powder shape and size. (5) Development of duplex stainless steels [10, 11] Properties of sintered duplex stainless steels, prepared from mixtures of different mass ratios of 304L and 410L powders, were investigated and compared to those of sintered 304L and 410L steels. It was found that
Fig. 6 SEM micrograph of 316L-Al2O3 composite. (7) Development of P/M-related machines [13]
after
A powder compacting press (Fig. 7) was designed
sintering, of the sintered duplex stainless steels was lower
and manufactured. The press consisted of a fixed die
dimensional
change,
particularly
shrinkage
MP06 plate, a fixed core-rod plate and two hydraulic cylinders
[4] N. Tosangthum, et. al., “SINTERING OF 316L + Ni
attached to movable upper and lower punches. The design
POWDER
allowed the press to be worked as a “single-action” or
Metallurgy and Particulate Materials (Compiled by W.
“double-action” pressing. The maximum load of the
Brian James and Russell A. Chernenkoff), Metal Powder
upper punch was 100 metric ton. Traveling of upper and
Industries Federation, 2004, pp. 5_51 – 5_60.
lower punches was controlled by a programmable logic
[5] N. Tosangthum, et. al., “Dimensional Change During
control (PLC) circuit.
P/M Processing of the 316L + Ni + Cu Alloys”, The
COMPACTS”,
Advances
in
Powder
Third Thailand Materials Science and Technology Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, August 10-11, 2004. [6] N. Tosangthum, et. al., “Effect of Admixing Ni and Cu Powders on Property of Sintered 316L Alloy”, Chiang Mai J. Sci., (In press). [7] N. Tosangthum, et. al., “Density and Strength Improvement of Sintered 316L Stainless Steel”, Chiang Mai J. Sci., (In press). A 100-ton hydraulic press Fig. 7 Illustration of a P/M-related machine developed by PM_RDU.
[8] S. Morakotjinda, et. al., “Effect of Particle Size on Properties of Porous 316L Stainless Steel”, NSTDA Annual Conference 2005, Pathum Thani, Thailand, March 28-30, 2005.
4. Conclusions The activities include developments of metal powder production plant, engineering P/M parts prototypes, highdensity and high-strength P/M stainless steels, controlled porous materials, duplex stainless steels, stainless steelbase composites and P/M related machines.
[9] U. Kwanthong, et. al., “A Unique Production Route for
Porous
Materials”, The
19th Conference
of
Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005, Phuket, Thailand. [10] N. Kuljittipipat, et. al., “Mechanical Properties of Austenitic + Ferritic Stainless Steels Prepared by Powder Metallurgy”, NSTDA Annual Conference 2005, Pathum
Acknowledgments The authors express their sincere gratitude to the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), for financial support.
Thani, Thailand, March 28-30, 2005. [11] R. Jittavikul, et. al., “Mechanical Properties of Sintered Dual Phase Stainless Steel Prepared from 304L and 410L Powders”, The 19th Conference of Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005,
References [1] K. Fakpan, et. al., “Production of Tin Powder by a Gas Atomisation”, NSTDA Annual Conference 2005, Pathum Thani, Thailand, March 28-30, 2005. [2] C. Dungkratok, et. al., “Analysis of Tin Powder Production Using a Pilot Gas Atomiser”, The 19th Conference of Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005, Phuket, Thailand. [3] R. Tongsri, et. al., “Development of P/M sensor bosses from stainless steel powders”, Final report to MTEC, 2005.
Phuket, Thailand. [12] A. Panumas, et. al., “Preparation of 316L-Al2O3 Composite”, The 19th Conference of Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005, Phuket, Thailand. [13] R. Krataitong, et. al., “Design and Manufacturing of a Powder Compacting Press”, The 19th Conference of Mechanical Engineering Network of Thailand, 19-21 October 2005, Phuket, Thailand.
