Unconventional methods of sintering Inconel 718 MIM samples

ABSTRACT

In this investigation, three different consolidation ways for Inconel 718 MIM samples are compared. The conventional sintering in a furnace is compared to field assisted hot pressing (FAHP) and microwave sintering. By accelerating the sintering kinetics, the thermal behaviour may be modified. Hence, the behaviour of the Inconel 718 sintered by field assisted and microwave sintering has been investigated. The sintered samples were all injected from a feedstock composed of a fine particle Inconel powder and a binder principally composed of cellulose acetate butyrate and polyethylene glycol. The effects of the different process on the microstructure and the mechanical properties are then compared. There was no difference in distribution of pores between the conventional and the FAHP sintering. The microwave sintering of a metal injection moulding brought defects during the test and lower properties were obtained.

This paper is part of a special issue on the Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies (AMPT) 2015 and has subsequently been revised and extended before publication in Powder Metallurgy.

KEYWORDS:

• Metal injection moulding
• Inconel 718
• microwave sintering
• FAHP sintering

Acknowledgements

The author is thankful to Marcos Angulo and Dr Andrea García-Junceda of IMDEA Materials Institute for their help on the utilisation of the Gleeble 3800 equipment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Olivier Dugauguez is a PhD student at Femto-ST laboratories in Besançon at the Applied Mechanic department and at the Carlos III University at the department of investigation of powder technologies.

Prof. José Manuel Torralba is the Director general of the Universities and of research of the community of Madrid, professor titular at the University Carlos III of Madrid.

Prof. Thierry Barriere is an University professor at the University of Franche-Comté and at Femto-ST laboratories at the Applied Mechanic department.

Prof. Jean-Claude Gelin is an University professor at Ecole Nationale supérieure de mécanique et de microtechniques of Besançon and at Femto-ST laboratories at the Applied Mechanic department.

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to thanks the Fonds Unique Interministeriel (FUI) PROPIM project for the financial support and the French embassy in Spain via the project Merimee promoting the exchanges between France and Spain.