Institut Cerac Sa

David G Morris

A die for compacting powder by dynamic compaction. The die is intended for compaction pressures substantially above 1 GPa. The die is made of a mixture of a plastic material and a metal powder. The die has the same density before compaction as the powder to be compacted. Furthermore, the die undergoes the same increase in density during compaction as the powder being compacted. The die is cheap relative to a steel die and can, thus, be made for single use. The range of geometries possible to compact is greatly extended.

Die for compaction of powder

A method of producing large objects from rapidly quenched non-equilibrium powders in which the powder is first slowly precompacted to a predetermined density without causing any substantial temperature rise. The powder is then rapidly compacted by a shock wave having a short rise time. In this way thin surface regions on the particles are rapidly brought to melting to cause interwelding of the particles. These thin surface regions are then rapidly quenched by conduction of heat to the interior of the particles. Because of the very rapid heating and quenching, in the order of a few microseconds, degradation of the material is avoided.

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Lausanne, Switzerland

David G Morris