High Energy High Rate Pulsed Power Processing of Materials by Powder Consolidation and by Railgun Deposition.
Abstract
This exploratory research program was initiated to investigate the potential of using pulse power sources for powder consolidation, deposition and other High Energy High Rate Processing. The characteristics of the High Energy High Rate (1MJ/s) powder consolidation using megampere current pulses from a Homopolar Generator, have been defined. Molybdenum Alloy TZM, A Nickel based metallic glass, Copper graphite composites, and P/M Aluminum Alloy X7091 have been investigated. The powder consolidation process produced high densification rates. Density values of 80% to 99% could be obtained with sub second high temperature exposure. Specific energy input and applied pressure were controlling process parameters. Time Temperature Transformation (TTT) concepts underpin a fundamental understanding of pulsed power processing. Inherent control of energy input, and time to peak processing temperature developed to be held to short times. Deposition experiments were conducted using an exploding foil device (EFD) providing an armature feed to railgun mounted in a vacuum chamber. The material to be deposited - in plasma, gas, liquid or solid state - was accelerated electromagnetically in the railgun and deposited on a substrate. Deposits of a wide variety of single specie and multi-specie materials were produced on several types of substrates. In a series of ancillary experiments, pulsed skin effect heating and self quenching of metallic conductors was discovered to be a new means of surface modification by High Energy High Rate Processing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA179289
Entities
People
- C. Persad
- H. L. Marcus
- W. F. Weldon
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin