Modelling and Simulation of the Electrical Resistance Sintering Process of Iron Powders

In this paper, the process known as Electrical Resistance Sintering under Pressure is modelled, simulated and validated. This consolidation technique consists of applying a high-intensity electrical current to a metallic powder mass under compression. The Joule efect acts heating and softening the p...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Montes Martos, Juan Manuel, Cuevas, F. G., Viña Reina, Francisco Javier de la, Ternero Fernández, Fátima, Astacio López, Raquel, Sánchez Caballero, Eduardo, Cintas Físico, Jesús
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/152507
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/152507
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-019-00366-4
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Powder metallurgy
Field-assisted sintering techniques
Electrical resistance sintering
Modelling
Finite elements method
COMSOL
Descripción
Sumario:In this paper, the process known as Electrical Resistance Sintering under Pressure is modelled, simulated and validated. This consolidation technique consists of applying a high-intensity electrical current to a metallic powder mass under compression. The Joule efect acts heating and softening the powders at the time that pressure deforms and makes the powder mass to densify. The proposed model is numerically solved by the fnite elements method, taking into account the electrical–thermal–mechanical coupling present in the process. The theoretical predictions are validated with data recorded by sensors installed in the electrical resistance sintering equipment during experiments with iron powders. The reasonable agreement between the theoretical and experimental curves regarding the overall porosity and electrical resistance suggests that the model reproduces the main characteristics of the process. Also, metallographic studies on porosity distribution confrm the model theoretical predictions. Once confrmed the model and simulator efciency, the evolution of the temperature and the porosity felds in the powder mass and in the rest of elements of the system can be predicted. The infuences of the processing parameters (intensity, time and pressure) as well as the die material are also analyzed and discussed.