No abstract

In metal powder, shaping the preparation and characterization of the feedstock is an aspect commonly recognized as fundamental. An optimized composition is required to ensure the successful shaping of the feedstock. In this study, a commercial binder system, pure aluminum and 316L austenitic stainless-steel powders were used for micro hot embossing. The optimization process revealed that powder characteristics such as shape and the stability of the torque mixing, were important parameters. Manipulating the feedstock composition by adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes or stearic acid or using a higher powder concentration considerably influenced the torque mixing values. The steady state of torque mixing was achieved for all feedstocks. This torque behavior indicates a homogeneous feedstock, which was also confirmed by microscopic observations. Nevertheless, an extruding process was required for greater homogeneity of the aluminum feedstocks. The presence of the carbon nanotubes increased the homogeneity of green parts and reduced microcrack formation. The roughness was essentially dependent on the feedstock composition and on the plastic deformation of the elastomer die. Shaping the prepared feedstocks (with or without carbon nanotube) was achieved by the optimized powder concentrations and it did not increase by the stearic acid addition.

The joining of alumina (Al2O3) to γ-TiAl and Ti6Al4V alloys, using Ag-Cu sputter-coated Ti brazing filler foil, was investigated. Brazing experiments were performed at 980 °C for 30 min in vacuum. The microstructure and chemical composition of the brazed interfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. A microstructural characterization of joints revealed that sound multilayered interfaces were produced using this novel brazing filler. Both interfaces are composed mainly of α-Ti, along with Ti2(Ag,Cu) and TiAg intermetallics. In the case of the brazing of γ-TiAl alloys, α2-Ti3Al and γ-TiAl intermetallics are also detected at the interface. Bonding to Al2O3 is promoted by the formation of a quite hard Ti-rich layer, which may reach a hardness up to 1872 HV 0.01 and is possibly composed of a mixture of α-Ti and Ti oxides. Hardness distribution maps indicate that no segregation of either soft or brittle phases occurs at the central regions of the interfaces or near the base Ti alloys. In addition, a smooth hardness transition was established between the interface of Al2O3 to either γ-TiAl or Ti6Al4V alloys.