Experimental and numerical two- and three-dimensional investigation of porosity morphology of the sintered metallic material

A through scale investigation of a porosity shape and morphology after sintering of the Distalloy AB powder is the goal of the paper. First, the classical two dimensional analysis of porosity geometrical aspects is presented with the use of the systematic scanning technique (SST) and the light microscopy (LM). Then, a three dimensional investigation is realized with the non-destructive computed tomography (CT) technique. Advantages and limitations of the approach are evaluated within the work. Finally, to investigate small pores which are beyond the computed tomography resolution, the destructive serial sectioning technique was applied. The developed three dimensional reconstruction algorithm of two dimensional images of obtained cross sections is also presented. Finally, an example of possible practical application of obtained three dimensional digital representation of porosity in sintered samples, during the finite element (FE) modelling of deformation conditions is presented.