In situ investigation of dewaxing and sintering of stainless steel powder compacts by impulse excitation

The dewaxing and sintering behaviour of 316LHD (high-density) powder metallurgy stainless steel grade have been in situ characterized by means of the high-temperature impulse excitation technique. The evolution of the E modulus and internal friction (Q−1) with temperature was measured and correlated with the microstructural events during the thermal cycle. The obtained results were validated by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and computational thermodynamics.