Optimizing the rheology of metal powder feedstock for the production of high-density components by powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing and metal injection molding techniques

本项目旨在评估先进的基于流变学的测量技术的适用性，以改善水雾化金属粉末和粉末混合物的流动性。这些粉末和粉末混合物作为快速发展的先进制造工艺的原料，如高速加工压实（PM），通过激光粉末床融合和粘结剂喷射技术（AM）的增材制造，以及金属注射成型（MIM）。这些粉末和粉末混合物的流动特性的改善将允许制造用于运输和能源的高性能产品。此外，该项目的实现将使我们的工业合作伙伴成为加拿大公司最大的具有成本效益的钢粉供应商之一，这些公司转向PM， AM和MIM技术，目的是增强他们的整体竞争力。结合具有成本效益的水雾化粉末，提高了PM/AM/MIM制造技术的买飞比和高过程中粉末回收率，将有利于工业和环境。最后，该研究项目将有助于形成在材料科学和先进制造领域训练有素的高素质技术人才，以满足加拿大制造业日益增长的需求。

This project aims at evaluating the suitability of the advanced rheology-based measurement techniques for the improvement of flowability of water-atomized metallic powders and powder mixtures. These powders and powder mixtures serve as a feedstock for rapidly developing advanced manufacturing processes, such as the high processing speed compaction (PM), additive manufacturing via the laser powder-bed fusion and the binder-jetting techniques (AM), and the metal injection molding (MIM). The improvement of flow properties of these powders and powder mixture will allow fabrication of high performance products for transport and energy.Furthermore, the realization of this project will position our industrial partner as one of the largest suppliers of cost-effective steel powders to Canadian companies which turn towards PM, AM and MIM technologies with the objective to augment their overall competitiveness.A combination of cost-effective water-atomized powders with an improved buy-to-fly ratio and high in-process powder recycling rate of PM/AM/MIM manufacturing technologies would benefit both the industry and the environment.Finally, this research project will contribute to form highly qualified technical personnel trained in the fields of materials science and advanced manufacturing to satisfy the ever-growing demand from Canadian manufacturing industry.