Grain size properties

It is applied along with traditional methods to test strength properties, hardness, to determine standardized characteristics of stamping, grain size and other structural-sensitive characteristics. 

Hot pressing produces compacts that have superior properties, mainly because of higher density and finer grain size. Closer dimensional tolerances than can be obtained with pressing at room temperature are also possible. Hot pressing is used only where the higher cost can be justified. It has been usehil in producing reactive materials. One use is the combination of P/M and composites to produce hot-pressed parts that are fiber reinforced. 

Physical characteristics of metals have a significant impact on machinabihty. These include microstmctural features such as grain size, mechanical properties such as tensile properties, and physical properties such as thermal conductivity. 

The microstmcture and imperfection content of coatings produced by atomistic deposition processes can be varied over a very wide range to produce stmctures and properties similar to or totally different from bulk processed materials. In the latter case, the deposited materials may have high intrinsic stress, high point-defect concentration, extremely fine grain size, oriented microstmcture, metastable phases, incorporated impurities, and macro-and microporosity. AH of these may affect the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the coating. 

The exact properties depend upon the materials used, grain size, binder content, volume fraction of each constituent, and processing method. 

In addition to chemical analysis a number of physical and mechanical properties are employed to determine cemented carbide quaUty. Standard test methods employed by the iadustry for abrasive wear resistance, apparent grain size, apparent porosity, coercive force, compressive strength, density, fracture toughness, hardness, linear thermal expansion, magnetic permeabiUty, microstmcture, Poisson s ratio, transverse mpture strength, and Young s modulus are set forth by ASTM/ANSI and the ISO. 

The properties and performance of cemented carbide tools depend not only on the type and amount of carbide but also on carbide grain size and the amount of biader metal. Information on porosity, grain size and distribution of WC, soHd solution cubic carbides, and the metallic biader phase is obtained from metaHographicaHy poHshed samples. Optical microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy are employed for microstmctural evaluation. Typical microstmctures of cemented carbides are shown ia Figure 3. 

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