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Design for Powder Metallurgy: Predicting Anisotropic Dimensional Change on Sintering of Real Parts

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Abstract

Anisotropic dimensional change on sintering may strongly affect the precision of parts produced by press and sinter. In previous work a design procedure accounting for anisotropic dimensional change of axi-symmetric parts (disks and rings) has been developed on the basis of experimental data. In this work the procedure has been applied to predict the anisotropic dimensional change of real parts produced in industrial conditions, providing that coaxial rings were identified in the geometry of the actual parts. Parts were highly different for material, complexity of geometry, green density and process conditions. Parts were measured in the green and sintered state and the measured dimensional changes were compared to the predicted ones, finding a good agreement. The procedure was also adapted to predict dimensional change of an oval feature, and highly satisfactory results were obtained.

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Abbreviations

h:

Height of the part (mm)

hg :

Height of the green part (mm)

hs :

Height of the sintered part (mm)

εh :

Dimensional change in height

ϕext :

External diameter (mm)

ϕext g :

External diameter of the green part (mm)

ϕext s :

External diameter of the sintered part (mm)

εϕ ext :

Dimensional change in the external diameter

ϕint :

Internal diameter of the part (mm)

ϕint g :

Internal diameter of the green part (mm)

ϕint s :

Internal diameter of the sintered part (mm)

εϕ int :

Dimensional change in the internal diameter

εiso :

Isotropic dimensional change

Vg :

Volume of the green part (mm3)

Vs :

Volume of the sintered part (mm3)

R:

Ratio between the internal and the external diameter in the green parts

α:

Geometrical parameter relating the dimensional changes

γ:

Geometrical parameter relating R and α

K:

Anisotropy parameter

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Via Sommarive, 9, 38123, Trento, Italy

    I. Cristofolini, A. Molinari, M. Zago & S. Amirabdollahian

  2. European Powder Metallurgy Association, 2nd Floor, Talbot House, Market Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1LG, UK

    O. Coube

  3. AMES Barcelona Sintering S.A., Camí de Can Ubach, 8, Pol. Ind. “Les Fallulles”, 08620, Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Barcelona, Spain

    M. J. Dougan

  4. Höganäs AB, Bruksgatan 35, 263 83, Höganäs, Sweden

    M. Larsson

  5. GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH, Krebsöge 10, 42477, Radevormwald, Germany

    M. Schneider & L. Wimbert

  6. Sintex a/s, Jyllandsvej 14, 9500, Hobro, Denmark

    P. Valler

  7. MIBA Sinter Austria GmbH, Dr.-Mitterbauer-Str. 1, 4655, Vorchdorf, Austria

    J. Voglhuber

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  1. I. Cristofolini
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Correspondence to I. Cristofolini.

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Cristofolini, I., Molinari, A., Zago, M. et al. Design for Powder Metallurgy: Predicting Anisotropic Dimensional Change on Sintering of Real Parts. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. 20, 619–630 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-019-00030-2

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