A quantity of material (10), which is at less than a predetermined density, is disposed within a sealed container (12) which is, in turn, disposed in a first thermal jacket (32) to retain the heat within the material (10) to be consolidated. The first thermal jacket (32) is placed within a second thermal jacket (34) which is, in turn, disposed in a cavity defined by two elastomeric components (22, 24) retained between a ram (16) and pot die (14) of a press whereby upon closure of the press, the ram (16) enters the cavity (26) of the pot die (14) to apply external pressure to the entire exterior of the elastomeric components (22, 24). A seal (36) of material harder than the elastomeric material (22, 24) is disposed within the cavity (26) of the pot die (14) for preventing the elastomeric medium (22, 24) from leaking between the sliding surfaces of the ram (16) and the pot die (14).

Method for hot consolidating materials

A particulate mass to be sintered is imbedded in a mold which comprises a porous mass of particulate refractory material enclosed within a flexible membrane. Six press units are provided for applying compressive pressures externally to the mold, together or in sequence, whereby to subject the sinterable mass to pressures in the respective directions, under the control of a preprogrammed control unit which receives clock pulses from a source and stimulates the respective press units. A flexible heating coil imbedded in the mold is supplied with alternating current from a source to inductively heat up the sinterable mass and the adjacent mold material, to enable sintering to occur. The sinterable mass may have been precompacted into a self-supporting so-called "green compact", or it may be supported in a self-supporting shell carried within and forming part of the mold. The mold preferably comprises three layers having characteristics chosen so as to assist in heating up the sinterable mass uniformly.

Method of and apparatus for sintering a mass of particles with a powdery mold

An apparatus for heating powders or powder compacts for consolidation in a pressure vessel having a chamber. There is a device for directly induction heating the powder or powder compact. Additionally, the apparatus is comprised of a device for compacting a powder or powder compact. The device for directly induction heating the powder essentially provides uniform heating to the powder while the compacting device compacts the powder or powder compact in the chamber of the pressure vessel. A method for consolidation of powders or powder compacts which has the steps of heating directly by induction the powder or powder compact, and applying an isostatic stress to the powder or powder compact.

Method and apparatus for inductively heating powders or powder compacts for consolidation

Apparatus for the continuous extrusion of electrically conductive granulated materials, preferably powder metallurgy materials, wherein the material is introduced into a duct of a die and is compressed and moved along the duct to and through a nozzle on the die by a punch movable in the duct, the material being sintered by heating it with electrical current passed therethrough via electrical connections made with the punch and nozzle.

Apparatus for the continuous extrusion of electrically conductive granulated materials, preferably powder metallurgy materials

The present invention is a method of automatically loading powder material into a sintering mold and subsequently effecting electrical sintering to the powder material in the sintering mold.

Method and system for automatic electrical sintering

A method of electrical sintering of a mass particles of conductive or nonconductive powder in which the powder is compacted between the electrode by means of liquid pressure applied through a flexible membrane The fluid pressure may be supplied within the body or from the outside and may follow the shrinkage of the mass which can be spark sintered or fused by resistance heating An elongated element can bridge the electrodes for retention in the mass to form a reinforcing member or can serve as an auxiliary heating element The body thereby sintered can be surrounded by a lightly compacted, porous layer of a heat resistant material (eg, graphite) to form a force-transmitting medium between the membrane in the sinterable mass

Kiyoshi Inque

Papers

Electrical sintering under liquid pressure