Abstract
Laboratory compaction and ejection studies have been made using a reduced iron powder mixed with a number of zinc stearates having median particle sizes between 4 and 22μm. Comparable experiments were carried out on a fully instrumented production press, which was operated at compacting pressures between 300 and 500 MN/m2 to produce compacts with true densities ranging from 5·90 to 6·70 g/cm3. Determination of ejection forces by the two methods enabled calculations of the coefficients of friction between compact and die wall to be made for mixtures containing 0·5–2·0 wt.% zinc stearate. These showed that the behaviour during compaction and ejection was comparable on both laboratory and production scales and gave very similar results. An interpretation of the results is given and values of coefficients of friction are presented which show that these are dependent on the type of zinc stearate used.
Notes
* Manuscript received 1 May 1972. Contribution to a Symposium on ‘The Role of Surface Properties in Powder Metallurgy’ to be held in Eastbourne on 20 and 21 November 1972.