Abstract
A model to describe the densification rate of a metal powder aggregate undergoing constant uniaxial pressure and temperature conditions is proposed. The model is based on the power law creep equation, and it is obtained by using the equivalent simple cubic system, a theoretical tool proposed by the authors in previous work. This theoretical tool assumes that it is possible to predict the evolution of the densification under the pressure of an actual powder system via the study of the same problem in a system of deforming spheres packed into a simple cubic lattice. The proposed model is validated with the help of experimental data obtained from uniaxial hot compaction experiments carried out with aluminium, tin and lead powders. The agreement obtained between theoretical curves and experimental data is reasonably good.
The authors are grateful to FEDER/MCyT, Madrid, and Junta de Andalucía for funding this research within the framework of project nos. MAT2007-61643 and P08-TEP-3537. The authors also wish to thank the technicians J. Pinto, M. Madrid and M. Sánchez (University of Seville) for experimental assistance and M. J. Quidiello (Junta de Andalucía) for the mathematical comments.