Elastic properties of powders during compaction. Part 1: Pseudo-isotropic moduli

The elastic moduli of powdered materials undergoing uniaxial compaction was investigated, paying particular attention to effects of solid phase material properties and initial particle shape. Elastic properties were characterised by the isotropic elastic moduli Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus, calculated from elastic wave speeds measured in the axial (pressing direction). To isolate material property effects, three different ductile metal powders (copper, stainless steel, and aluminium) with equivalent particle shape (spheroidal) were tested. Comparison with similar measurements for a brittle spheroidal powder (glass) illustrated that solid phase yield mechanism affects the evolution of pore character, and hence bulk elastic properties of the powder compact. Pore character was also studied separately by comparing copper powders with differing particle shapes (spheroidal, irregular, and dendritic).

For all powders, Young’s modulus increased monotonically with compaction (reducing porosity). For the ductile spheroidal powders, differences in evolution of Young’s modulus with compaction were accounted for by solid phase elastic properties. The different morphology copper powders showed an increase in compact compliance as particle (pore) ruggedness increased. Poisson’s ratio followed a concave porosity dependence: decreasing in the initial stages of compaction, then increasing as porosity approached zero. Comparison between powders indicated the initial decrease in Poisson’s ratio was insensitive to solid phase material properties. However, as the compact approached solid phase density, the Poisson’s ratio—porosity locus diverged towards corresponding solid phase values for each particle material, indicating an influence of solid phase elastic properties.