Investigation of Floating and Single-Action Dies in Producing Dense Compacts with High Aspect Ratio

Abstract

In this study, the commercially pure aluminum powder was compacted by single-action and floating dies at room temperature. The effect of compaction method on densification was studied using density distribution, microhardness measurements and scanning electron microscope (SEM) along the compaction axis of processed samples. The density measurements of compacted samples through the floating die process shows more uniform density distribution in comparison with single-action process, which is in good agreement with microhardness and SEM results. Results also show that the densification requires lower compaction load in floating die process than is needed in single-action compaction process, which is due to the improvement of the frictional condition by making change in relative movement in the frictional surfaces of floating die process. Therefore, it makes floating die more beneficial in producing dense compacts with high aspect ratio (ratio of height to diameter) which is not possible in single-action die compaction process.