Spark Plasma Synthesis

High-speed spark plasma sintering machine Ed-Pas

Description

A revolutionary system that provides powerful support for the development of new materials for the future.

This sintering system also allows convenient and easy operation in an ordinary environment.

An essential tool for new material development

High-speed spark plasma sintering creates sintered compacts from a variety of powders. It is capable of sintering powdered beryllium, aluminum, titanium, molybdenum, and other materials which are difficult to sinter by conventional methods. It can also easily sinter ultra-hard alloys and non-metallic material such as carbon and fine ceramics – a process which previously required much time. Ed-Pas is able to create special alloys from a variety of powders, perform weld shaping at the same time when sintering powders, and perform other services that are essential when developing materials for a new age.

Operating principle

When pulse voltage is directly applied to a powder, micro-discharges occur in the spaces between the powder particles, generating plasma. This shock vaporizes impurities such as oxide films and absorption gas on the surfaces of the particles. At the same time, the particle surfaces are activated by the build-up of heat and strain energy. Next a special power source generates Joule heat at the locations where the activated particles are in contact, causing thermal diffusion. Electrodiffusion caused by the voltage occurs in parallel at this time, allowing sintering to be completed within short times ranging from several tens of seconds to several minutes.

Technical features of Ed-Pas

Because with Ed-Pas, electrical energy acts directly on the powder, and because the activation caused by electrical discharge occurs in parallel with thermal diffusion and electrodiffusion caused by current application, this system provides a number of features which are not possible with conventional sintering methods.

• Because the plasma discharge generated between the particles cleanses and activates the sintered locations, a high vacuum and reducing atmosphere are not required.
• High-density energy is supplied efficiently to the required locations, allowing sintering to take place at lower temperatures than with other methods.
• Because sintering occurs over a short time at low temperatures, the sintered compact crystals do not grow, and the amorphous quality remain virtually unchanged.
• The powder particles are bonded by the application of electricity, producing materials which have superior electrical and magnetic properties.
• Precision control of the amount of applied energy allows layered sintering of materials with different melting points, functionally graded materials, and superconducting materials.
• Because a rapid temperature rise of 1,000 – 2,000℃ per minute is possible, it is possible to complete sintering of carbides, borides, tungsten, molybdenum, and other materials with high melting points in a short time.
• No knowledge of powder metallurgy is required, and anybody can easily produce high-quality sintered compacts simply by viewing the sintering functions, even when operated by persons with no sintering experience or when sintering a new powder for the first time.

Applied research fields for Ed-Pas materials

Electromagnetic materials, mechanical materials, diamond tool materials, dental materials, wear-resistant materials, friction material, carbide materials, heat resistant materials, ultra high-temperature materials, amorphous materials, nano-micron materials, intermetallic compounds, porous materials, functionally graded materials, composite materials, fibrous materials, ceramic materials, carbon materials, others