Abstract:
This research studied binder composition and parameters affecting specimens prepared from Cu
powder extrusion process. Both spherical- and irregular-shape copper powder with different sizes of
< 45, 45 - 75, and 75 - 125 micron were used. Constituents used for binder were low density
polyethylene (LOPE), paraffin wax (PW), and stearic acid (SA). Binder formulae were conducted
using LDPE of 25 - 45, PW of 50 - 70, and SA of 5 % wt. The optimum binder formulation
attained was B4550, which comprised LOPE, PW, and SA of 45, 50, and 5 % wt, respectively.
Employing capillary rheometer, B4550 showed pseudoplastic behavior. Cu Powder feedstocks with
volume ratios of the Cu powder and the binder of 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, and 75:25 were investigated.
Pseudoplastic behavior was also observed for Cu powder feedstocks. The feedstocks were extruded,
downward, into a rod-shape of 5.0 nun in diameter and 15 em in length. For spherical Cu powder,
feedstocks prepared from all different Cu powder sizes were extrudable with the Cu powder charge
< 70 % vol. For irregular Cu powders, extrudable feedstocks were prepared from the powders with
particle sizes < 45 micron and 45-75 micron with the Cu powders charges up to 65 and 60 % vol,
respectively. Whereas, the feedstocks with irregular Cu powder of 75 - 125 micron of all ratios
were not extrudable. The Cu extrudates were solvent debinded in hexane at 50 ํC for 55 - 75
minutes; and were then thermaly debinded up to 450 ํC in air atmosphere. Sintering of the
debinded specimens was studied at 1030 ํC for 1 - 4 hours in hydrogen atmosphere. At 3-hour
sintering, the value of relative density was about > 90% of theoretical density. The density
increased with the decrease in porosity. The Cu extrudate of irregular powder, <45 micron , 65 %
vol imparted the highest mechanical values: ultimate tensile strength of 228 MPa, yield strength
(0.2%) of 65 MPa, and elongation of 28 %. This was a result of the effective interparticle locking
due to the high surface area of the small-size powders.