Characterization and heat diffusion characteristics of Spark Plasma Sintered Ni-50%Fe Sintered Alloy

The research findings on the thermal diffusivity, a(T), characteristics of Ni -50%Fe binary alloys produced by ball-milling and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) powder processing techniques are reported in this study. The laser flash analysis method was used to evaluate a(T). Graphite coated Ni -50%Fe specimens (cubes) with a perimeter of 4 cm and height of maximum 4 mm were analyzed at temperature range of 50 ~ 400 °C. The initial alloy powder constituents were fcc Ni and bcc Fe; milled together in a planetary ball mill and formed a bcc FeNi solid solution phase that endured throughout the sintering stage, and contained in the microstructure of the finished product. The rate of heat diffusion in metallic Ni - 50%Fe compacts sintered at 800 °C is strongly affected by the intensity of milling/formation of new solid solutions. This value is small for long milling duration feedstock powders, even though the results from both powder feedstock milling apparatus seems to display a declining trend for all Ni - 50%Fe compacts sintered at 800 °C.