Inter Metal (Poland)

Commonly, flow rate (ISO 4490, JIS Z 2502, MPIF Standard 3) is used to evaluate powder flow. However, it may not be possible to measure flow rate because powder is not discharged from the orifice, and sometimes flow rate does not correspond to the actual production of parts in terms of productibility or weight variation. To examine the evaluation method of powder flow for die filling, we conducted measurements using evaluation devices (die filling testing devices) which are close to the actual die filling of pressing machines, owned by three powder producing member companies of the Technical Committee for Metal Powders of the Japan Powder Metallurgy Association. In addition, the powders used for this evaluation were those used in actual production by three member companies who manufacture components, from the same committee. As a result, it was found that appropriate quantitative evaluation is possible within the range of standard parameter conditions. On the other hand, it was also found that valid evaluations could not be obtained outside this range. We would like to discuss the possibility of standardization by further limiting parameter conditions.

ISO Standard 23519:2010 defines the surface roughness of sintered metal parts: Rk and Rpk, and it intends to provide relevant surface roughness data regardless of porosity,- however the data reliability tends to be insufficient in practice. The following parameters might influence the surface roughness data in accordance with the standard such as; measuring probe, instruments, filters, and others. The effect of such parameters was investigated and compared with an optical method using white light interferometry. 3 different measuring instruments were used. The measured surfaces of specimens having density of 6.4, 6.8 and 7.2 are punch facing side. In this study, details of the results are presented.

This paper presents comparative experimental results for the single-stage and two-stage counter-current acid leaching of battery masses, with the addition of a booster, from different types of LIB waste. Three different types of battery masses were used in this research: Material I, module car; Material II, tablets and laptops; and Material III, mobile phones. These materials were obtained during the mechanical processing of Li-ion battery waste, which were dried at a temperature in the range of 80–180 °C. Leaching studies of these materials were carried out using the single-stage acid leaching method with the addition of hydrogen peroxide, and the innovative two-stage counter-current acid leaching method, also with the addition of hydrogen peroxide. The single-stage leaching of the battery mass (regardless of the composition of the material) in a 15% or 20% sulfuric acid solution with the addition of 30% H2O2 aqueous solution, for 2 h, with a solid-to-liquid-phase ratio of 1:5 or 1:4 at a temperature of 60 °C ensures the leaching of cobalt, nickel, copper and lithium with efficiencies above 95%. On the other hand, the use of an innovative method of two-stage counter-current leaching of the battery mass ensures the leaching of cobalt, nickel, copper and lithium at a level significantly greater than 95%, while obtaining a concentration of cobalt in the leaching solution at a level of nearly 50 g/dm3. It also reduces the leaching time of a single stage to 1 h and, importantly, reduces the amount of waste solutions and the consumption of H2O2 and sulfuric acid. The developed method of the two-stage counter-current leaching of battery masses is therefore characterized by high efficiency and low environmental impact, thanks to which it can be used in commercial processes for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

This is a thermal control model that aims to increase sinter process stability and standardize control criteria using the position and temperature of the sintering point or BTP calculated by the model. The process computer sends to the instrumentation setpoints of return fines, strand speed and coke content. The model was successfully tested at the facilities of AM Asturias with contrasted improvements in productivity, cok consumption and quality stability.

Compaction is the central stage of the Powder Metall shaping process. Powder blends must balance free flow with high green strength and good compressibility (of special interest to powder makers); tooling must be of sufficient strength to withstand the stresses of production, and must incorporate design features that take into account not only finished-part geometry but also die fill, powder-transfer stages, press kinematics and ejection to achieve uniform pressed density and to avoid generation of shear or tensile cracks as a result of the compaction process (of special interest to tool designers and press makers).

The expansion of Specialist Subject Schools (SSS) will cost taxpayers £113 million in start-up costs in the next three years, taking the annual cost of the programme to £373 million (Times Educational Supplement [TES], 2003). This paper adopts a case study approach, examining the processes, outcomes and implications of the bidding period and the first year of being a Specialist Subject School, from the perspective of the head of the major department involved. Whilst immediate outcomes are undoubtedly positive for all involved, serious issues are revealed concerning sustainability.

Abstract This paper presents a study on the surface durability of sintered metal gears. Gear blanks made of partially prealloyed steel powders were compacted and sintered under various processes, then they were hobbed and case-hardened. Some gears were surface-rolled under various amount of rolling before case-hardening. The contact fatigue tests were carried out for these gears using the power-circulating-type gear test machine. The effects of sintering processes and rolling on the surface durability and wear of sintered metal gears were determined. Furthermore, the surface durability of the above-mentioned sintered metal gears was compared with that of the wrought steel gears. The density of sintered metal gears increases by adopting a double-press-double-sinter (2P2S) process as the sintering process. The surface density of the sintered metal gears tends to increase with rolling for the case of gears with relatively lower density. The surface durability of sintered metal gears tends to increase with an increasing surface density. The surface durability of sintered metal gears may approach that of the wrought steel gears by adopting the appropriate sintering and rolling processes.

A new free-machining additive, MnX, has been reported to improve the machining performance of ferrous powder metallurgy (PM) materials. This work investigated this claim by comparing the performance of three otherwise identical PM materials containing: no additive, conventional manganese sulphide (MnS) additions and the new MnX additive. A turning operation and cutting speeds of 100–250 m/min were used during which cutting forces, tool wear and surface finish were measured. The MnX material was found to exhibit superior performance. However, this was most noticeable at higher cutting speeds and at the lower cutting speeds, differences in performance were substantially reduced. [S0094-4289(00)02004-1]