Materials physics based numerical simulation in powder metallurgical processing and calibration of material models

In powder metallurgical production the steps of pressing and sintering play an important role by resulting in a three-dimensional density distribution within the workpiece. Insufficient processing can lead to rejects or in case of subsequent thermomechanical deformation, influence the quality of final products. For a process optimization, numerical simulation becomes increasingly important because of its temporal and economic efficiency. However, reliable simulation depends heavily on material model parameters used for a specific powder. It is shown that accurate experimental calibration of these parameters is possible using small amounts of powder and laboratory equipment.