METALLIC MATRIX COMPOSITES BASED ON NICKEL AND Ni-Cr ALLOY WITH SiC DISPERSION OBTAINED BY POWDER METALLURGY CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUE AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING (PRINTING 3D).
Metal matrix Composites, nickel alloys, SiC, powder metallurgy and additive manufacture.
The composites materials are versatile materials that make it possible using exclusive advantages of different constituents in a complementary way to suppress the limitations each constituents. One of systems of materials more prominent in the last decades are the metal matrix composites (MMCs). The nickel alloys are widely used in the production of several materials, especially those that needs mechanical strength associated to corrosion resistance. In addition to extensive application as alloying element in stainless steel and other alloys (ferrous and no ferrous), such as Ni-Cr alloys. The Ni-Cr alloys has high electrical resistance, mechanical strength, and corrosion resistance and to the oxidation in a wide range of temperature and environments. Particle-reinforced composites can have costs comparable to metals without reinforcement, with significantly better hardness, a little stiffness and strength. The present study aims at the production and characterization of metallic matrix composites based on nickel and nickel-chromium alloy with SiC dispersion obtained by two powder metallurgy processes: conventional technique and additive manufacturing (printing 3D). The process of obtaining powders through the conventional technique of powder metallurgy is being developed at UFRN, where the characterization of the products obtained in both techniques will also be carried out. The production of the composites through 3D print will be carried out at EMPA (Federal Swiss Laboratory for Materials Science and Technology), located in Zurich. The compositions studied in this work are: Plant nickel and 80Ni20Cr (as reference), Ni + 1,5%SiC, Ni + 3%SiC, NiCr + 1,5%SiC and NiCr + 3%SiC. Samples of Ni and mixtures of Ni + 1,5%SiC and Ni + 3%SiC were ground in a planetary mill, granulated by drum granulation technique, containing 2,5% wt paraffin content, sieved and flowability tests were carried out in this ones. The Vickers microhardness tests and the microstructural characterization by DRX, MO, MEV-FEG were performed.