IGNITING SHS BY LASER AND ITS APPLICATION TO SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING OF METALLIC POWDER MATERIAL

How to directly fabricate metallic functional parts with selective laser sintering (SLS) process is a potential technique that scientists are researching. Existent problems during directly fabricating metal part by use of SLS are analyzed. For the sake of solving the problems, a new idea of adding self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) material into metallic powder material to form new type of SLS metallic powder material is put forward. This powder material can release controllable amount of heat during its interaction with the laser beam energy to reduce the requirement to laser power during directly sintering metallic part, to prolong the time of metallic liquid phase existing, and to improve the intensity and accuracy of SLS part. For this reason, SHS material′s interaction with the CO2 laser beam energy is researched, which proves that CO2 laser beam energy may instantly ignite SHS reaction. On the basis of the above-mentioned researches, the effect of sintering the metal powder material mixing SHS material with CO2 laser is also researched, which shows: there is an optimal blending ratio of various material in the new metallic powder material. Under the optimal blending ratio and SLS process parameters, this new metallic powder material can indeed release amount of heat and SHS reaction may be controlled within the laser sintering. This research result makes it possible that the metallic part is directly sintered with small CO2 laser (less than 50W), which may greatly reduce the volume, cost and running expenditure of SLS machine, be propitious to application.

Magnetic modification of diamagnetic agglomerate forming powder materials

A simple method for the magnetic modification of various types of powdered agglomerate forming dia- magnetic materials was developed. Magnetic iron oxide particles were prepared from ferrous sulfate by microwave assisted synthesis. A suspension of the magnetic particles in water soluble organic solvent （methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, or acetone） was mixed with the material to be modified and then completely dried at elevated temperature. The magnetically modified materials were found to be stable in water suspension at least for 2 months.

Spheroidization of molybdenum powder by radio frequency thermal plasma

To control the morphology and particle size of dense spherical molybdenum powder prepared by radio frequency（RF） plasma from irregular molybdenum powder as a precursor, plasma process parameters were optimized in this paper. The effects of the carrier gas flow rate and molybdenum powder feeding rate on the shape and size of the final products were studied. The molybdenum powder morphology was examined using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. The powder phases were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The tap density and apparent density of the molybdenum powder were investigated using a Hall flow meter and a Scott volumeter. The optimal process parameters for the spherical molybdenum powder preparation are 50 g/min powder feeding rate and 0.6 m^3/h carrier gas rate. In addition, pure spherical molybdenum powder can be obtained from irregular powder, and the tap density is enhanced after plasma processing. The average size is reduced from 72 to 62 μm, and the tap density is increased from 2.7 to 6.2 g/cm^3. Therefore, RF plasma is a promising method for the preparation of high-density and high-purity spherical powders.

Optimization of Processing Parameters for Laser Powder Deposition using Finite Element Method

In order to investigate the effects of powder materials and processing parameters on thermal and stress field during laser powder deposition （LPD）, a finite element model was developed with the help of ANSYS software. The finite element model was verified by the comparison between the experimental results and computed results. Then LPD processes with different powder materials and processing parameters were simulated by using the FE model. The results show that less difference of thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient between powder material and substrate material produces lower residual stress; higher laser power, laser scanning speed and smaller laser beam diameter can lead higher peak temperature and higher residual stress. The research opens up a way to rational selection of the powder materials and processing parameters for ensured quality.

Sintering Effect on the Performance of Tungsten-copper Powder Liner

In order to study the properties of high-temperature sintered tungsten-copper powder shaped charge liner, the tungsten powder and copper powder, whose particle size is below 20 μm, were chosen as the main material. The mixed powder were directly pressed into the desired shape of the charge liner by the top direct-pressure way. The microscopic morphology of the spinning shaped charge liner, and the particle properties of the copper and tungsten powder were studied with scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results showed that the irregular copper powder and regular tungsten powder both are effectively and high- temperature sintering, which can improve the compactness of the powder liner effectively. The wall thickness and density of the no sintered and sintered liner were tested, showing that sintering thinned down the wall thickness and improved the density. The penetration depth of no sintered powder liner, sintered powder liner and the spinning copper plate liner were respectively tested in different standoff, showing that the penetration properties of sintered powder liner are well.

Multi－diffused Reflection Spectroscopy of Rare Earths Doped LaOCl Powder Samples and the Calculation of Quantum Efficiency

The excitation and emission spectra, the relaxation time of principal spectral lines and multi-diffused reflection spectra in LaOCl: Er, LaOCl: Ho powder samples were measured. The diffused absorption spectrum was derived from the multi-diffused reflection spectrum. According to Judd-Ofelt theory,the intensity parameters, radiative transition probabilities and quantum efficiencies of luminescence emission were calculated. Then comparison with erbium and holmium doped floride glass and other matrices were made.

Modification of Powder Compaction Equation of Kawakita

Based on an analysis of the validity of the powder compaction equation of Kawakita,a modified compaction equation is proposed.It is shown by the statistical analysis on the experimental compaction data of various powders that in most cases the proposed equation provides a better description of the compaction data than Kawakita's equation,especially in the cases of the compaction of hard material powders.

WEAR AND SEALING CHARACTERISTICS OF ENGINE VALVE GUIDE

A novel powder metallurgy （P/M） material with high wear resistance is developed in order to decrease the wear and lubricant-leakage of a diesel engine valve guide. The friction and wear tests of this material are conducted. It indicates that the wear resistance of the newly developed P/M material has been improved and much better than that of the formerly used alloy steel. Moreover, three different sealing structures are designed and theoretically analyzed with respect to the characteristic of hydrodynamic sealing. Through comparative experiments of component leakage and engine run-in for different valve guide structures, it proves that the structure with a machined sealing groove but not installed with a seal-ring cannot only reduce the specific lubricant consumption （SLC） of cylinder head, but also decrease the wear of valve stern and valve guide.

Leakage of nuclear material powder from pressure container through a small orifice

Because of the radioactivity and toxic nature of nuclear materials, their containment within oxide matrices, encased in sealed containers, has been proposed as a suitable means for storage and transportation. However, container failures because of cracks or small orifices present a major leakage risk for nuclear materials, consequently posing a significant hazard to the environment and human beings. In this study, terbium oxide powder was used as a nuclear material representative to examine the leakage of nuclear material powder through orifices located at the base of a pressure container. The dependence of the orifice diameter, the powder layer thickness, and the internal pressure of the container on the leakage mechanism and amount was examined. A simplified model correlating the dependence of the above-mentioned parameters to determine the utmost leakage amount was also developed based on the present results. The leakage of the nuclear material powder was assessed by measuring its concentration using an optical particle counter. The diameter of the orifice determined the powder leakage mechanism, which in turn influenced the amount of leakage produced. Comparison studies showed that unlike the changes in the differential pressure, the volume of the container has little effect on the leakage amount. Under sufficiently high internal pressures, the oxide powder can be released as a fine aerosol. The work is not only crucial from the nuclear safety aspect, but is also beneficial for the safe application of powder and nanoparticles.

Mixing of particles and powders:Where next?

Industrial mixers for powders and granular materials operate with no effective control of mixture quality and lack scientific design. The last twenty years have seen growth in understanding of mixing and mixers. However, research falls far short of what is needed for on-line characterisation of mixture quality. Secondly, although theoretical descriptions of a few mixer types have been reported, these fall far short of what is needed for equipment design. Two thrusts could revolutionise this situation. One is a scientific characterisation of mixer structure applicable to industrial scale as well as laboratory scale equipment; this is now within our grasp using digital imaging. The other is the development of ideas to overcome the restricted number of particles that can be used in the Distinct Element Method （DEM） for mixers. The goal should be to take the designer through a sequence of steps to the most appropriate mixer size, configuration and operating conditions for a given process duty.

Numerical analysis of enhanced mixing in a Gallay tote blender

The mixing performance of a multi-bladed baffle inserted into a traditional Gallay tote blender is explored by graphic processing unit-based discrete element method software. The mixing patterns and rates are investigated for a binary mixture, represented by two different colors, under several loading profiles. The baffle effectively enhances the convective mixing both in the axial and radial directions, because of the disturbance it causes to the initial flowing layer and solid-body zone, compared with a blender without a baffle. The axial mixing rate is affected by the gap between the baffle and the wall on the left and right sides, and an optimal blade length corresponds to the maximum mixing rate. However, the radial mixing rate increases with the blade length almost monotonically.