Abstract

Crack generation during die compaction and distortion during sintering have been critical problems for the conventional pressing and sintering process. Until now, trial and error approach with engineers' industrial experiences has been only solution to protect the crack generation and distortion. However, with complexity in shape and process it is very difficult to design process conditions without CAE analysis. We developed the exclusive CAE software (PMsolver/Compaction) for die compaction process. The accuracy of PMsolver is verified by comparing the finite element simulation results with experimental results. The simplified procedures to find material properties are proposed and verified with iron based powder and tungsten carbide powder. Based on the accurate simulation result by PMsolver, the optimal process conditions are designed to get uniform density distribution in a powder compact after die compaction process by using a derivative based optimization scheme. In addition, the effect of non-uniform density distribution in a powder compact on distortion during sintering is shown in case of the fabrication of tungsten carbide insert.

• Keywords: Die Compaction;Finite Element Analysis;Process Design;Optimization;Constitutive Equation;Material Property;