Parameters effect on electrical conductivity of copper fabricated by rapid manufacturing

ABSTRACT

In this study, technological hybridization of three-dimensional printing technology and ultrasonic-assisted pressure-less sintering has been used for fabricating electrically conductive copper specimens. The influence of sintering and ultrasonic vibration parameters was studied on the electrical conductivity measurements. A step-shape long ultrasonic horn was designed to amplify the vibrations. The cavity for powder pouring was formed in the steel crucible, and further, the crucible was attached to the ultrasonic horn. The horn along with crucible was placed inside the conventional tube and sintering was performed at different cycles. A central composite design was used to plan the experiments for processing parameters, including sintering temperature, heating rate, soaking time, and ultrasonic power percentage intensity (UPPI). The eddy current method-based apparatus has been employed for measuring the electrical conductivity of samples. Analysis of variance has been used to obtain the significant factors to understand the processing characteristics. Sintering temperature and UPPI have been obtained as the most dominating parameters effecting electrical conductivity of the sintered samples. Further, the different interactions have been studied for the electrical conductivity value. The statistical model was optimized to get parameters for maximum electrical conductivity. The results of the present study were validated with Wiedemann–Franz law.

KEYWORDS:

• Rapid
• manufacturing
• copper
• ultrasonic
• vibrations
• sintering
• electrical
• conductivity
• 3D
• printing
• tooling