Cost analysis of T6 induction heat treatment for the aluminum-copper powder metal compacts

Abstract

This work compares an energy cost and an energy consumption results of the 4 wt.% cupper mixed aluminum based powder metal (PM) compacts processing under induction or furnace heating. Total power and energy consumptions and total energy costs per kilogram and compact have been analyzed. T6 precipitation heat treatment applications have been applied with two different methods, one with 2.8 kW, 900 kHz ultra-high frequency induction heating system (UHFIHS), other with 2 kW chamber furnace. In the first method, Al-Cu PM compacts have been heated by induction at 580 °C in one minute and then cooled down by water. Afterwards, the samples have been heated 170, 180, 190 and 200 °C respectively for artificial ageing and cooled naturally. In the second treatment, unlike the first study, Al-Cu PM compacts are heated by chamber furnace at 540 °C in 5 hours and cooled by water. Then PM compacts are artificially aged at 190 °C in 10 hours with same furnace. During both processes, energy and power consumptions for each defined process have been measured. Optimum heat treatment of the induction is determined. The cheaper energy cost is obtained by the induction heat treatment.

Cold Pressed Pure Aluminum Powders Sintering With Ultra High Frequency Induction

“…In future studies, experiments can be conducted by optimizing the size of Pure Al powders, different powder material additive and applied pressure parameters. Besides, further studies can be conducted to find other optimum conditions by changing other parameters, such as induction coil design, the frequency and the applied power of the induction system [11,17,21,22]. The induction technique can provide better information about the change in the material surface's internal structure and possible hardness increase.…”

“…It controls an increase in surface hardness while maintaining the core original structure and toughness properties. Appropriate phase transformation in the exterior surface of the material is possible by inducing [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

The investigation of the effect of cu addition on the Nb-V microalloyed steel produced by powder metallurgy

“…The parts produced by this method have a less rough surface than the parts produced by other methods and often do not require secondary processing. Homogeneous distribution of the quality, completely controllable ingredient and content, and low unit cost make powder metallurgy as a unique production method in the production industry [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Thus, it was found that approximately 97 % of the material was used in mass production with PM.…”

Enhancing the electrical properties of inkjet-printed silver ink by electrolyte sintering, photonic sintering, and electroless plating

“…Thermal sintering is one of the most conventional methods, in which treating samples are exposed to relatively high temperature (~200 o C) [7]. Although thermal sintering is simple to perform, there are several drawbacks associated with this method, such as inevitable thermal damage to substrates, long treatment duration and energy inefficiency [8]. In order to ease these issues, quick room-temperature sintering methods have been investigated.…”