Metal powders of superlative quality, i.e. high cleanliness, rapidly solidified and spherical shape, have seen an increasing demand in the market. The leading technology for the production of such powders is the inert...Metal powders of superlative quality, i.e. high cleanliness, rapidly solidified and spherical shape, have seen an increasing demand in the market. The leading technology for the production of such powders is the inert gas atomization of metal alloy melts. To fulfill these requirements, the metal alloy is usually produced in a vacuum induction melting furnace (VI-GA = vacuum induction melting/gas atomization) and poured by means of a preheated tundish system into a gas nozzle where the metal stream is disintegrated by a high kinetic energy inert gas jet. The produced micro-droplets solidify in a free fall inside the atomization tower. For special applications, super-clean and ceramic-free metal powders can be produced by using the EIGA (electrode induction melting/gas atomization) melting- and atomizing system. As an alternative to the metal powder route, the sprayforming technology allows to produce semi-finished products in one step. In this case, the metal droplets produced by the high-energy inert gas nozzle system are directly solidified on a substrate, allowing to form billets, rolls and tubes.展开更多
The present work compares microstructures of hot work steels made by different processes, that is, by sprayforming,by casting, and a commercially supplied H13 steel. Material benefits are recognized by sprayforming ho...The present work compares microstructures of hot work steels made by different processes, that is, by sprayforming,by casting, and a commercially supplied H13 steel. Material benefits are recognized by sprayforming hot working tools such as die inserts for hot forging. The sprayformed hot work steels present a fine and homogeneous microstructure,which implies that, at a similar toughness level, the sprayformed steel can be higher alloyed, so that the thermal fatigue and wear resistance at elevated temperatures can be improved. A series of steels with higher vanadium content than commercial hot work steels are developed. There are no segregation and carbide network problems usually encountered in conventional ingot/forging processed high-vanadium steels. Microstructure and hardness of the new sprayformed steels are studied under different heat treatment conditions. It is justified that these sprayformed steels can be directly used for tooling without high temperature hardening. Sprayforming the tool steels onto a precision ceramic mould is demonstrated to extend the technoeconomical benefits, so that a net shape production tool can be rapidly made.Features of the rapid tooling process are also discussed.展开更多
文摘Metal powders of superlative quality, i.e. high cleanliness, rapidly solidified and spherical shape, have seen an increasing demand in the market. The leading technology for the production of such powders is the inert gas atomization of metal alloy melts. To fulfill these requirements, the metal alloy is usually produced in a vacuum induction melting furnace (VI-GA = vacuum induction melting/gas atomization) and poured by means of a preheated tundish system into a gas nozzle where the metal stream is disintegrated by a high kinetic energy inert gas jet. The produced micro-droplets solidify in a free fall inside the atomization tower. For special applications, super-clean and ceramic-free metal powders can be produced by using the EIGA (electrode induction melting/gas atomization) melting- and atomizing system. As an alternative to the metal powder route, the sprayforming technology allows to produce semi-finished products in one step. In this case, the metal droplets produced by the high-energy inert gas nozzle system are directly solidified on a substrate, allowing to form billets, rolls and tubes.
文摘The present work compares microstructures of hot work steels made by different processes, that is, by sprayforming,by casting, and a commercially supplied H13 steel. Material benefits are recognized by sprayforming hot working tools such as die inserts for hot forging. The sprayformed hot work steels present a fine and homogeneous microstructure,which implies that, at a similar toughness level, the sprayformed steel can be higher alloyed, so that the thermal fatigue and wear resistance at elevated temperatures can be improved. A series of steels with higher vanadium content than commercial hot work steels are developed. There are no segregation and carbide network problems usually encountered in conventional ingot/forging processed high-vanadium steels. Microstructure and hardness of the new sprayformed steels are studied under different heat treatment conditions. It is justified that these sprayformed steels can be directly used for tooling without high temperature hardening. Sprayforming the tool steels onto a precision ceramic mould is demonstrated to extend the technoeconomical benefits, so that a net shape production tool can be rapidly made.Features of the rapid tooling process are also discussed.
