Correlation between factors controlling preparation of porous copper via sintering technique using experimental design

There are many factors which control the porosity of the final object during preparation of porous copper compact using PM (powder metallurgy) technique. The amount of filler material, its type, sintering temperature, sintering time and the pressure of compaction were recognized as the most important parameters. In this investigation, naphthalene was used as filler material during porous copper preparation. Also, the correlation between these parameters and the porosity degree of the final object was developed with the aid of 2N factorial design experiments. It was found that the amount of naphthalene represents the most important parameter controlling the porosity degree in the final object.

There are many factors which control the porosity of the final object during preparation of porous copper compact using PM (powder metallurgy) technique. The amount of filler material, its type, sintering temperature, sintering time and the pressure of compaction were recognized as the most important parameters. In this investigation, naphthalene was used as filler material during porous copper preparation. Also, the correlation between these parameters and the porosity degree of the final object was developed with the aid of 2N factorial design experiments. It was found that the amount of naphthalene represents the most important parameter controlling the porosity degree in the final object.The correlation between the different parameters and the porosity degree of the produced porous copper compacts were given in the following relation:P = 64.24 − 2.59 ⁎ 10−2X1 + 1.59 ⁎ 10−2X2 − 6.13 ⁎ 10−2X3 + 30.57 ⁎ 10−2X4 − 5.6 ⁎ 10−5X1X2 + 8.8 ⁎ 10−6X1X3 − 7.4 ⁎ 10−5X2X3 + 1.52 ⁎ 10−3X1X4 + 2.52 ⁎ 10−3X2X4 + 1.91 ⁎ 10−3X3X4WherePis the porosity degreeX1is the sintering temperatureX2is the sintering timeX3is the compaction pressureX4is the amount of naphthaleneIncreasing the sintering temperature, sintering time and compaction pressure are responsible for the formation of sound necks between powders and their growth owing to the active mass transfer, giving rise to an increase in the contact areas and a decrease in the voids of the sample. Whereas, increasing the amount of naphthalene is responsible for increasing the porosity degree of the final porous copper compacts.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide