Effect of Particle Size on Explosive Compaction of Co-Base Alloy Powder

Abstract

Co-base alloy (stellite) powders were dynamically compacted by using cylindrical axisymetric explosive method. The E/M ratio (where, E is explosive mass and M is powder mass) and the particle size of the powder were varied to investigate their effects on compaction. Optimum compact, where no cracks was obtained at the E/M ratio between 2.5 and 3.0 using 75μm/100μm (M designation) and 125μm/150μm (L designation) powders ; the specific density of compacts exceeded 98%. Satisfactory compacts could not be obtained using a size powder<50μm (S designation).