Thermal processes during high-voltage electric discharge consolidation of powder materials

The results of a simulation of the thermal processes occurring within interparticle contacts of powder materials under high-voltage electric discharge consolidation are presented. The thermal processes in the contacts between powder particles are characterized by significant spatial inhomogeneity and time dependence. The determination of the behavior of the interparticle contact zones enables optimization of the pulse electrical current parameters. A good correlation between the modeling and experimental data for compacted iron and heat-resistant steel powders is demonstrated.