TECHNIQUES USING LUBRICANT COMPOSITE FOR MANUFACTURE OF PARTS FROM METAL POWDER

摘要

Lubricant composition and related methods and apparatus for manufacturing a green compact in a die cavity during a powder metallurgy operation wherein the lubricant composition includes a first component and a second component. The first component has a starting phase, an active phase, and a transition temperature at which at least part of the first component changes state from the starting phase to the active phase. Upon contact with wall surfaces of the die cavity, the first component transitions from the starting phase to the active phase, and the second component adheres to the active phase of the first component to form a lubrication layer coating the die wall surfaces. The component may be a first solid particulate component, such as polymeric particulate material or a sugar, or a first gaseous component, such as water vapor or palm oil vapor, respectively able to melt or condense upon contact with die cavity.

主权项

1. A method for manufacturing a green compact in a powder metallurgy operation, comprising:
providing a die cavity having die wall surfaces; providing a lubricant composition comprising:
a first component having a starting phase, an active phase, a transition temperature at which at least part of the first component changes state from the starting phase to the active phase, an active phase temperature range where the first component is in the active phase and a starting phase temperature range where the first component is in the starting phase; and wherein the first component in the active phase adheres to the die wall surfaces; anda second component in particulate form having a solid phase temperature range where the second component is in a solid state, wherein the second component in solid state adheres to the active phase of the first component; maintaining the die cavity to an operating temperature falling within said active phase temperature range of the first component; feeding the lubricant composition at a feeding temperature falling within said starting phase temperature range of the first component and said solid phase temperature range of the second component into the die cavity thereby causing at least part of the first component to change into the active phase and to form with the second component a lubrication layer coating the die wall surfaces feeding a metallurgical powder mixture into the die cavity; compacting the metallurgical powder composition in the die cavity at a compaction pressure sufficient to form the green compact; and ejecting the green compact from the die cavity.