This Self-Study Course provides the fundamental principles of the sintering process for powder metallurgy (PM) materials. It is based on a graduate level course that was refined over many years. The Course emphasizes the theory of sintering but includes information on the sintering behavior of a wide variety of engineered materials: metals, alloys, composites, carbides, intermetallics, etc. The Course is intended for those involved with manufacturing, materials processing, engineering science, industrial engineering, and related disciplines such as chemical engineering. This technically in-depth Course provides valuable knowledge for career development.
Target Audience
- Aerospace and Materials Engineers
- Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Process Engineers and Technologists
- Quality Assurance Engineers and Technologists
- Management and Overseers of Powder Metallurgy Organizations
Recommended Pre-Requisites
A practical understanding of chemistry and physics is beneficial for the comprehension of fundamental principles provided in this course.
Duration of Course
This Course contains sixteen (16) pre-recorded segments that average 60 minutes each. The Course will be open to the student for 3 months from the date of purchase.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the Course, the student should be able to:
- Differentiate solid state, liquid phase, mixed phase, pressure-assisted, and field-assisted sintering
- Define and illustrate several microstructure features and understand microstructure/property relationships
- Understand the stages of sintering and micromechanics
- Separate the roles and options for atmospheres and implement atmosphere management
- Consider mathematical relationships to various metrics
- Discuss the advantages of computer simulations based on early and current modeling simulations
Materials Included
E-Publications
- Sintering Compilation I: Theory & Equipment Related
- Sintering Compilation II: Process Alternatives
- Sintering Compilation III: Effects on Materials
Cost of Course - $950 per individual for less than 6 employees
$850 per individual for groups of 6-9 employees
$750 per individual for groups of 10 or more employees
(Contact Stephanie Schember to register multiple employees.)
This Course contains sixteen (16) pre-recorded segments that average 60 minutes each. Below is a listing of lectures with a short description of goals/objectives that will be defined within the lecture.
Part 1, Introduction: introduction and definitions, sense of where industrial sintering arose, overview of applications and microstructures, justification for program and growth outline.
Part 2, Events During Sintering: stages of sintering, micromechanics – curvature and interfaces, thermodynamic and kinetic factors, transport mechanisms – diffusion, vapor, plastic, viscous, microstructure evolution depiction.
Part 3, Sintering Measurement Tools: show various tools used to measure sintering, reinforce by looking at example data and behavior, describe typical devices, relate (mathematically if possible) various metrics.
Part 4, Parametric Relations: interrelations of sintering monitors, illustrate role of adjustable parameters such as temperature, particle size, time, heating rate, …, show how monitors provide insight, few examples of under-sintering and over-sintering, use monitors to identify optimal sintering conditions.
Part 5, Microstructure Evolution: define and illustrate several microstructure features, show common pathways evident in microstructures, relate microstructure parameters, set up to understand property linkage to microstructure.
Part 6, Solid State Sintering: curvature gradients as driving force in porous solids, mass transport involved in solid state sintering, geometric progression and sintering stages, mathematical treatments and key relations.
Part 7, Liquid Phase Sintering: introduction to solid-liquid sintering options, thermodynamics, phases, solubility, and reactions, micromechanics and kinetics, microstructure evolution, coarsening, grain shape, mention some materials and applications.
Part 8, Mixed Phase Sintering: composites sintering behavior, bimodal mixtures, packing and sintering rules, chemical gradients, activated sintering, composition effects, predictions via the rule of mixtures.
Part 9, Pressure-Assisted Sintering: consider how pressure and temperature combine, mechanistic evaluation of diffusion, creep, plastic flow, outline variety of processes for densification, show examples of materials, cycles, and applications.
Part 10, Field-Assisted Sintering: historical remarks on the origin of the idea, action in an electric field, example cycles, practice today – materials, cycles, and applications, application details – sintered diamond.
Part 11, Atmospheres: identify roles and options for atmosphere, introduce thermodynamics and reactions, show positive effects and potential difficulties, atmosphere management, especially for metallic species.
Part 12, Sintering Hardware: heat transport, heat sources, furnaces; types, advantages and drawbacks, conveyance mechanisms, measurement and control options, substrates.
Part 13, Behavior / Properties: examine how sintering variables link to properties, structural materials, largely mechanical properties, various density, microstructure, composition cases, comment on application-property combinations.
Part 14, Computer Modeling: justification for modeling – computer simulation, illustrate early and current models, show component level (size and shape) predictions, identify problems and directions in modeling.
Part 15, Extra Examples: take up some “interesting extra topics”, highlight specific sintering cycles for various materials, comment on anisotropic effect of gravity.
Part 16, History of Sintering: context for key developments in sintering, historical timeline, building blocks, motivations and technical advances, identification of key actors, materials, and developments.
Professor Randall M. German
Rand German is Research Professor at San Diego State University, previously serving as dean of engineering research.
His PhD degree in Materials is from the University of California – Davis, following a MS in Metallurgical Engineering from The Ohio State University and BS in Materials Science and Engineering from San Jose State University. He is recognized as a distinguished alumnus from all three universities.
Rand held chaired professorships at Rensselaer Polytechnic, Penn State, and Mississippi State, and in the latter two positions headed large research centers, directing efforts funded at $59 million. He has authored more than a thousand articles, 21 books, and 25 patents, while being involved in forming twelve companies. Rand is recognized by professional organizations around the world and is a Fellow of three technical societies including APMI International.
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Cancellation
All Self-Study Course purchases are considered final. However, a full refund may be provided if requested in writing to MPIF within 14 days of purchase of a Course, provided the Course materials had not been accessed more than one time during that 14-day period.
Disclaimer
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