Sintering times for copper powder can vary depending on various factors such as part mass, heating capacity of the furnace, and final property requirements. Generally, the time-at-temperature for sintering copper powder is typically in the range of 20 to 60 minutes.
However, it is important to note that the duration of sintering can vary greatly depending on the materials and techniques used. Sintering can take anywhere from a few milliseconds to over 24 hours. The time required for sintering is influenced by factors such as the mobility of the atoms, self-diffusion coefficients, melting temperature, and level of thermal conductivity of the materials.
Different sintering techniques also affect the duration of the process. Field-assisted techniques can reduce sintering times, while selective laser sintering (3D printing for metals) and traditional oven processes are generally slower. The addition of a liquid phase can also speed up sintering times, but faster sintering can sometimes result in reduced density and residual porosity.
In certain cases, such as with cemented carbides or hardmetals, a sintering mechanism involving the generation of a permanent liquid phase is applied. This type of sintering process involves the use of additives that melt before the matrix phase, creating a binder phase. The duration of sintering for such materials may involve multiple stages.
For spark sintering methods like Plasma Activated Sintering (PAS) and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), sintering time is significantly reduced due to small holding time at the sintering temperature. In SPS, for example, sintering temperature of 1200°C can be achieved in as little as 4 minutes, compared to hours in conventional sintering methods.
Overall, while the sintering process itself generally takes only seconds to complete, the post-form sintering step can take several hours. It is important to carefully control each step of the sintering process to achieve the desired results.
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