Field-assisted sintering technology/Spark plasma sintering is a low voltage, direct current (DC) pulsed current activated, pressure-assisted sintering, and synthesis technique, which has been widely applied for materials processing in the recent years. After a description of its working principles and historical background, mechanical, thermal, electrical effects in FAST/SPS are presented along with the role of atmosphere. A selection of successful materials development including refractory materials, nanocrystalline functional ceramics, graded, and non-equilibrium materials is then discussed. Finally, technological aspects (advanced tool concepts, temperature measurement, finite element simulations) are covered.

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Field-Assisted Sintering Technology/Spark Plasma Sintering: Mechanisms, Materials, and Technology Developments

Metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) are thosemetal matrix composites where the reinforcement is of nanometer dimensions, typically less than 100nm in size. Also, it is possible to have both the matrix and reinforcement phases of nanometer dimensions. The improvement in mechanical properties of MMNCs is attributed to the size and strength of the reinforcement as well as to the fine grain size of the matrix. Spark plasma sintering has been used extensively over the past years to consolidate wide range of materials including nanocomposites and was shown to be effective noneconventional sintering method for obtaining fully dense materials with preserved nanostructure features. The objective of this work is to briefly present the spark plasma sintering process and review published work on spark-plasma-sintered metals and metal matrix nanocomposites.

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Spark plasma sintering of metals and metal matrix nanocomposites: a review

A functionally gradient iron-aluminum wall structure with aluminum composition gradient from 0 at. pct to over 50 at. pct is fabricated using a wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) system. The as-fabricated alloy is investigated using optical microstructure analysis, hardness testing, tensile testing, X-ray diffraction phase characterization, and electron-dispersive spectrometry. The comprehensive analysis of the experimental samples has shown that the WAAM system can be used for manufacturing iron aluminide functionally graded material with full density, desired composition, and reasonable mechanical properties.

Tomas Skiba

Papers

Mechanical properties of spark plasma sintered FeAl intermetallics