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At least 253 records · Page 14

Predicting Deformation of Parts from HP Printers due to Sintering with Modeling and Simulation (CRADA NFE-18-07363)

This work proposes to leverage Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) sintering simulation software developed at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility to 1) investigate the deformation of sintered parts and 2) to develop fast surrogate-based optimization methods for HP Inc. This includes the development of ORNL’s software on HP systems, integration and testing with HP part geometries and material properties, the development of surrogate models based on the results of the simulation, and modifications to the software based on feedback from HP. The expected impacts of this work are a drastic reduction in print costs, an increase in printer throughput, and the identification of novel, possibly exotic materials for 3D printing. This work will also decrease the time to market for HP’s print technology by decreasing the amount of resources and type dedicated to physical testing.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Cold Sintered Ceramics and Cements for Part Encapsulation

In this project, ceramic encapsulation materials were studied for high temperature (>~°500 C) applications where typical polymer encapsulants are unstable. A new low temperature (<~°200 C) method of processing ceramics, the cold sintering process was examined. Additionally, commercially available high temperature ceramic cements were investigated. In both cases, the mechanical strengths of available materials are less than desired (i.e., desired strengths similar to Si 3 N 4 ), limiting applicability. Composite designs to increase mechanical strength are suggested. Additionally, non-uniformities in stresses and densification while embedding alumina sheets in encapsulants via cold sintering using uni-axial pressing led to fracture of sheets, and an alternative iso-static based approach is recommended for future studies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Developing New Polymeric Powder Feedstocks for Selective Laser Sintering: Emphasizing Particle Size and Shape

Although selective laser sintering is considered a major player in the additive manufacturing community, significant limitations exist when it comes to processing the polymeric powder feedstocks in the laser sintering machine. While these limitations – such as inadequate and uneven heating and complex thermal phenomena leading to curling and shrinkage – cannot be ignored and are being addressed in the community, it is also vitally important to turn our attention to the expansion of commercially available powder feedstocks. A major drawback of SLS is the lack of available feedstocks. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, a primary desire for advancement in the manufacturing or development of new feedstocks lies in the nuclear weapons applications program. New feedstocks with greater thermal stability and performance would provide the opportunity for insertion of production parts, rather than just prototype parts. Additionally, the ability to print with so-called commodity polymers like polyethylene and polypropylene poses great economic advantages for prototyping and production of large batches of parts. However, a gap exists between the Lab’s needs and what is commercially available – a gap which could be filled by collaboration with the broader industrial sector. Furthermore, connecting with and building relationships with industry partners allows for greater control and input in the developmental process of new powders. This would provide reliable feedstocks, improved quality assurance, and overall higher performance of processes across the additive manufacturing community.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Printability and Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene and Polyethylene/Nylon Blend Parts Made by Selective Laser Sintering

Improving the printability of polyethylene powder in selective laser sintering is of keen interest for the additive manufacturing community. Work to increase the variety of available feedstocks still must be done, as Nylon powder still constitutes a huge majority of all feedstocks used for selective laser sintering. Polyethylene is particularly of interest because it is a cheap, commodity polymer. Although some commercially available polyethylene powders exist, choosing one of these means the user is restricted to the specific polymer properties that those powders possess. Developing a reproducible processing parameter regime for polyethylene that exhibits other useful properties, such as very high densities or molecular weights, requires a uniquely tailored set of processing parameters. Particular emphasis will be placed on processing parameters that result in improved mechanical properties, as well as the possibility of successfully making SLS parts from polyethylene blends, e.g. polyethylene/Nylon blends.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Optimization of boron carbide density using direct current sintering for use as sputtering sources at the National Ignition Facility

Several experimental trials were conducted to determine optimal sintering parameters and compositions for purchased boron carbide powder using spark plasma sintering/direct current sintering. Sputtering targets used to create ablators for the National Ignition Facility have been unable to survive post processing procedures suggesting that in-house fabrication may yield better results due to extended control.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Creating and Preserving Nanoparticles during Co-Sintering of Solid Oxide Electrodes and Its Impact on Electrocatalytic Activity

A novel processing method that creates and preserves ceramic nanoparticles in solid oxide electrodes during co-sintering at traditional sintering temperatures is introduced. Specifically, carbon templated samarium-doped ceria nanoparticles (nSDC) were successfully integrated with commercial lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) and commercial SDC powders, producing LSCF-SDC-nSDC cathodes upon processing. The effect of nSDC concentration on cathode electrocatalytic activity was investigated at low operational temperatures, 600 °C–700 °C, with symmetrical cells. Low nSDC loadings, ≤5 wt% nSDC, significantly decreased cell polarization resistance whereas higher loadings increased it. The best electrochemical performance was achieved with 5 wt% nSDC, lowering the polarization resistance by 41% at 600 °C. Fuel cell tests demonstrate that adding 5 wt% nSDC increased the maximum fuel cell power density by 38%. Electrochemical impedance spectra showed substantial improvements in both fuel cell polarization resistance and ohmic resistance, indicating that nSDC increased the electrocatalytically active area of the cathode. This work demonstrates a simple, novel method for effectively increasing electrocatalytic activity of solid oxide electrodes at low operational temperatures.

Muhoza, Sixbert P. (ORCID:0000000299864241)↗

New sintering process adjusts magnetic value of ferrite cores

A two-phase sintering technique based on time and temperature permits reversible control of the coercive threshold of sintered ferrite cores. Threshold coercivity may be controlled over a substantial range of values by selective control of the cooling rate.

Vinal, A. W.↗

Sintering, crystallization, and breccia formation

The process of breccia formation by viscous sintering in the absence of pressure, advanced by Simonds (1973), is examined in detail. The limitations on the standard model for such sintering are considered. The competing process of crystallization is analyzed kinetically in terms of time-temperature-transformation curves corresponding to various degrees of crystallinity. The analysis is applied to Lunar Composition 15418 to illustrate the approach. The results indicate that close constraints can be placed on the thermal histories of lunar breccias, particularly breccias with modest degrees of crystallinity, from microstructural observations and kinetic measurements.

Uhlmann, D. R.↗

Friction and wear of sintered fiber-metal abradable seal materials

Three abradable gas path seal material systems based on a sintered NiCrAlY fibermetal structure were evaluated under a range of wear conditions representative of those likely to be encountered in various knife-edge seal (labyrinth or shrouded turbine) applications. Conditions leading to undesirable wear of the rotating knife were identified and a model was proposed based on thermal effects arising under different rub conditions. It was found, and predicted by the model, that low incursion (plunge) rates tended to promote smearing of the low density sintered material with consequent wear to the knife-edge. Tradeoffs benefits between baseline 19 percent dense material, a similar material of increased density, and a self lubricating coating applied to the 19 percent material were identified based on relative rub tolerance and erosion resistance.

Bill, R. C.↗

Improved reaction sintered silicon nitride

Processing treatments were applied to as-nitrided reaction sintered silicon nitride (RSSN) with the purposes of improving strength after processing to above 350 MN/m2 and improving strength after oxidation exposure. The experimental approaches are divided into three broad classifications: sintering of surface-applied powders; impregnation of solution followed by further thermal processing; and infiltration of molten silicon and subsequent carburization or nitridation of the silicon. The impregnation of RSSN with solutions of aluminum nitrate and zirconyl chloride, followed by heating at 1400-1500 C in a nitrogen atmosphere containing silicon monoxide, improved RSSN strength and oxidation resistance. The room temperature bend strength of RSSN was increased nearly fifty percent above the untreated strength with mean absolute strengths up to 420 MN/m2. Strengths of treated samples that were measured after a 12 hour oxidation exposure in air were up to 90 percent of the original as-nitrided strength, as compared to retained strengths in the range of 35 to 60 percent for untreated RSSN after the same oxidation exposure.

Baumgartner, H. R.↗

Effect of attrition milling on the reaction sintering of silicon nitride

Silicon powder was ground in a steel attrition mill under nitrogen. Air exposed powder was compacted, prefired in helium, and reaction sintered in nitrogen-4 v/o hydrogen. For longer grinding times, oxygen content, surface area and compactability of the powder increased; and both alpha/beta ratio and degreee of nitridation during sintering increased. Iron content remained constant.

Herbell, T. P.↗

Friction and wear of sintered fibermetal abradable seal materials

Three abradable gas-path seal-material systems based on a sintered NiCrAlY fiber metal structure were evaluated under a range of wear conditions representative of those likely to be encountered in various knife-edge seal (labyrinth or shrouded turbine) applications. Conditions leading to undesirable wear of the rotating knife were identified, and a model proposed based on thermal effects arising under different rub conditions. It was found, and predicted by the model, that low incursion (plunge) rates tended to promote smearing of the low-density sintered material with consequent wear to the knife edge. Tradeoff benefits between baseline 19 percent dense material, a similar material of increased density, and a self-lubricating coating applied to the 19 percent dense material were identified on the basis of relative rub tolerance and erosion resistance.

Bill, R. C.↗

Effect of attrition milling on the reaction sintering of silicon nitride

Silicon powder was ground in a steel attrition mill under nitrogen. Air-exposed powder was compacted, prefired in helium, and reaction-sintered in nitrogen-4 v/o hydrogen. For longer grinding times, oxygen content, surface area and compactability of the powder increased; and both alpha/beta ratio and degree of nitridation during sintering increased. Iron content remained constant.

Herbell, T. P.↗

High pressure sintering of non-oxide materials

Pure materials of AIN, alpha-Si3N4 and TiC, without additives were sintered at 800 C to 1400 C under the pressures of 30 kbar and 50 kbar for 0.5 hours. The maximum density of sintered bodies for the cited materials was nearly 100% for AIN, 98% for TiC and 96% for alpha-Si3N4.

Shimado, M.↗

Effects of oxide additions and temperature on sinterability of milled silicon nitride

Specimens of milled alpha-Si3N4 with 0 to 5.07 equivalent percent of oxide additions were pressureless sintered at 1650 to 1820 C for 4 hours in nitrogen while covered with powdered Si3N4 + SiO2. Densities of less than or equal to 97.5 percent resulted with approximately 2.5 equivalent percent of MgO, CeO2, Y2O3, and three mixtures involving these oxides. Densities of greater than or equal to 94 percent were obtained with approximately 0.62 equivalent percent of the same additives. At most temperatures, best sinterability (density maxima) was obtained with 1.2 to 2.5 equivalent percent additive.

Arias, A.↗

Development of energy-absorbing reaction-sintered Si3N4 surface layers on hot-pressed Si3N4

Energy-absorbing Si3N4 surface layers on dense Si3N4 substrates were formed by in-place nitridation of fine-grained silicon powder. Ballistic impact tests performed on samples with 1-mm thick layers at room temperature and 1370 C showed up to an eightfold increase in the energy necessary to fracture the substrate. For maximum impact resistance, a small amount (about 20 vol %) of residual Si must be present in the reaction-sintered Si3N4 surface layer. Thermal cycling to 1370 C did not affect impact resistance, even though a considerable amount of SiO2 formed within the reaction-sintered Si3N4 layer during cycling. Erosion testing of samples in a Mach 0.8 burner rig at 1370 C resulted in minimal surface recession of the surface layer. Chemically vapor-deposited SiC-coated material similarly tested exhibited no surface recession.

Brennan, J. J.↗

Effect of the powder characteristics of Sisub3Nsub4 on the microstructure of sintered bodies

Silicon nitride powders sintered with the addition of 2 wt% Mg0 to 95% theoretical density after attrition milling and subsequent purification were evaluated. Preparation of the powders is described. The powder characteristics (specific surfaces, iron concentration, and oxygen content), and density, weight loss, and phase state of the sinter bodies as a function of powder preparation are presented.

Woetting, G.↗

Effects of the mode of storage on the capacity fading of the sintered nickel electrodes

A systematic investigation of the effect of temperature and two conditions of storage, shortened and open circuit, on the capacity fading of sintered nickel electrodes in NiCd batteries was conducted. All testing was done on sintered electrodes in flooded cells. Cycling tests to measure the capacity were performed at room temperature. The capacity out to one volt, a capacity useful for satellite applications. Test results indicated that: the shortened electrode showed a higher rate of loss than the open circuit electrodes; there was an increase in both modes with an increase in temperature; there was a loss of capacity with time of storage; a general degradation was observed as a function of time; shortened electrodes showed a higher end of charge than the open circuit ones; and at room temperature there was a lower loss in the open circuit electrode than in the shortened one.

Vyes, B.↗