27.12.2012 Views

DESIGN, ASSEMBLY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPOSITE ...

DESIGN, ASSEMBLY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPOSITE ...

DESIGN, ASSEMBLY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPOSITE ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Two-phase densification is required when a continuous refractory phase is<br />

desired. The inclusion particle network must consolidate during the densification process<br />

along with the metal matrix phase. To avoid warping or cracking, especially in<br />

unconstrained sintering, it is imperative that the two phases densify at the same rate. Even<br />

slight discrepancies in local sintering rates will have deleterious effect on component<br />

morphology. 49<br />

It is a considerable challenge to achieve identical sintering rates uniformly across<br />

a wide span of volume fractions of the two phases, because sintering rates vary<br />

significantly with the nature and properties of ceramic and metal materials; particularly,<br />

metals generally densify at a much faster rate than ceramics. 44 Matsuzaki 75 surveyed<br />

candidate metal/ceramic combinations for high-temperature applications. Non-oxide<br />

covalent ceramics that have too high a sintering temperature, such as SiC, were removed<br />

from consideration. Oxides with higher level of ionic bonding and lower sintering<br />

temperatures were retained as more suitable candidates. On the other hand, metals at the<br />

higher end of possible sintering temperature range have to be considered.<br />

Within the comparable sintering temperature ranges, sintering kinetics must be<br />

tuned so that the two powders will have the same densification rate under identical<br />

processing conditions. A variety of methods have been demonstrated, including particle<br />

size control, 76 sintering aids, 77 a combination of particle size control and sintering aids, 78<br />

densification of the powder compact within an appropriate temperature gradient by<br />

means of (i) laser beam surface heating, 79 (ii) microwave sintering, 80 and (iii) using<br />

electric discharge heating. 71<br />

70

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!