=-
HECK RW61 0166
Density-Pressure Relationships in Powder Compaction
R. W. Heckel
A method is described whereby the relationship
of both the "at-pressure" powder compact density
and the "zero-pressure" compact density to the
applied pressure may be obtained from continuous
measurements of punch movement during a single
compaction operation. The rate of density increase
with applied pressure for the metal powders is
found to be proportional to the volume fraction of
pores for pressures exceeding a lower limit which
varies from 15,000 to 30,000 psi, depending on the
powder.
THE compaction of powdered materials is carried
out primarily to increase the density of the mate-
rial. If the ultimate goal of the over-all process is
the attainment of minimum porosity, compaction is
responsible for most of the densification. For ex-
ample, loose powdered metals have porosities of
about 65 to 75 pct. Axial loading in a die or hydro-
static pressure may effectively reduce the porosity
of most powders to 20 pct or lower with pressures
of 50,000 psi and greater.
The relationship between the density of a powder
compact and the pressure needed to achieve that
density is most commonly obtained by pressing sev-
eral compacts, each at a different pressure. Meas-
urement of the densities of the individual compacts
when they are removed from the die then provides
the density-pressure relationship. However, this
method suffers from several disadvantages. Be-
cause a large number of compacts and pressing
operations are required, it is inherently slow. Fur-
thermore, since density measurements are made
R. W. HECKEL, Junior Member AIME, Is Research Metal-
lurgist, Engineering Reasearch laboratory, E. I. du Pont de
Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del.
Manuscript submitted September 12, 1960. IMD
TRANSACTIONS OF
THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY OF AIME
I
after the specimens are removed from the die, data
obtained refer only to pressures greater than those
necessary to form a coherent compact. The third
disadvantage is the inability of this method to pro-
vide information about the compact density at the
applied pressure in the die.
Because the determination of density-pressure
relationships has been a slow, tedious process, in-
vestigators have sought to express the compaction
behavior of powders by other means. The general
terms "compactability" and "compressibility" have
been used to rank powders qualitatively according
to their compaction characteristics. To restore a
quantitative nature to the subject and to prevent
confusion, Schwarzkopf1 has proposed that compac-
tibility be defined as the minimum pressure needed
to produce a given green strength, while compres-
sibility should be used to indicate the extent to which
the density of a powder is increased by a given pres-
sure. Probably the most widely used of the compac-
tion parameters is the "compression ratio," which
is generally defined as the ratio of the compact
density obtained by pressing at a given pressure to
the apparent density of the loose powder. 2 However,
the description of the compaction behavior of a
powder by these parameters provides only limited
information about the process because of their ap-
plicability to just one specific condition such as a
given green strength or a given pressure.
The method of obtaining density-pressure rela-
tionships which will be described in the present
paper was designed to eliminate the shortcomings
of the previous techniques while maintaining equiv-
alel)t accuracy and precision.
EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES
The general principle employed makes use of the
fact that the linear movement of the punch during a
VOLUME 221, AUGUST 1961-671

LOADING
V)
CI
~ the present investigation. The chOice of die was
C
ct
ILl
IX
~
ILl
CI
ct
CI
oJ
or
C "P
Imal - - - - -
to
-,- -
I
,
- - -
UNLOADING
a ~- - - - -:-
J
- - - - - - -
..J 0
0 P
PRESSURE
Fig . 1- Schematlc r epresentation of data curves along
with pe rtinent values for calculating densities .
single die compaction may be used to calculate the
change in volume of the powder as a function of
pressure, if the cross-sectional area of the die is
known. The density-pressure relationship over the
entire range of pressures used in the compaction
operation may then be calculated from a knowledge
of the weight of the powder and the volume-pres-
sure relationship. (It should be noted that the term
"density" as used here refers to the average den-
sity of the compact.) Since only the change in the
volume of the powder may be obtained as a function
of pressure, the data must be referred to a known
I
I
powder compact volume. Two volumes may be used:
zero die volume, which corresponds to the readings
taken when the top and bottom punches of the die are
in physical contact, or the volume of the compacted
specimen after completion of the compaction opera-
tion.
Since the linear movement of the punches dur ing
the application of pressure to the powder is the
algebraic sum of the change in height of the compact
and the elastic compressive strains in the punc hes,
the latter changes must be measured exper ime ntally
by a blank pressing operation in order to s eparate
the two effects. These punch-elasticity data are
used in the reduction of the linear punch- m ovement
data to allow the calculation of compact de nsity at
the applied pressure. This will be referred to as
"at-pressure" density. The densities measured
after the compacts are removed from the die will
be known as "zero-pressure" densities.
Thus far , consideration has been given to die com-
paction only. However, the method is adaptable to
hydrostatic compaction by suitable measurements
of volume decrease as a function of hydraulic pres-
sure. Corrections for the compressibility of the
hydraulic fluid and elastic deformation of the hydrau-
lic cylinders would be necessary.
672-VOLUME 221,AUGUST 1961
"
Die compaction of powdered materials may be
carried out under one of many possible experimental
conditions . In particular, a tensile bar die of 1.00:.
sq in. cross-sectional area with cavity dimensions
specified by the Metal Powder Association 3 and
having the die body supported by springs so that the
die behaved in a double-action manner was used in
arbitrary ; any die of interest could have been used.
Die lubrication was carried out by painting the body
and punches with a 3 pct solution of stearic acid in
carbon tetrachloride. The die was cleaned after
each compaction operation. One-half cubic inch
(0.50 in. depth) apparent volume 2 of powder was used
-
- - --
I
S
for the compacts, which averaged about 0.20 cu in.
in volume after pressing to 100,000 psi. The loading
- - - ~
I
was accomplished on a 120,000-lb capacity Baldwin
tension-test machine. A loading rate of 6000 psi
per min was used throughout. The measurement of
the 'amount of punch movement in the die was car-
ried out with the dial gage and lever assembly hav- ,
ing a precision of 0.0001 in. The base of the as-
sembly was fixed to the table of the testing machine
and the lever contacted the crosshead. As the table
moved upward, preSSing the punches of the die into
the die body, the relative movement of the cross-
head and table, identically equal to the amount of
punch movement, was indicated on the dial gage.
ANALYSIS OF THE EXPERIMENTAL DATA
If the scale on the dial gage is chosen so that the
dial-gage readings decrease as the load is applied
to the die, the experimental data, when plotted, take
the form shown schematically in Fig. 1 by the curves
RS and ST. These curves represent the data taken
on the application and removal of the pressure dur-
ing the pressing operation, respectively.
The mathematical reduction of the experimental
data into curves relating the average denSity of the
powder compact and the applied pressure requires
the following information: a) The weight of the pow-
der in the die, b) the cross-sectional area of the die
cavity, c) the elastic changes which take place in the
die itself as a function of the applied pressure (if
the at-pressure densities are to be calculated), and
d) either the dial-gage reading at zero die volume
without an applied pressure or the thickness of the
powder compact when removed from the die. The
weight of the powder and the dimensions of the die
cavity may be measured directly, the die elasticity
may be measured by a blank run (without powder),
the zero-volume gage reading may be taken before
placing the powder in the die, and the compact thick-
ness may be measured after the preSSing operation
when it is removed from the die. Because of the
extremely small difference in cross -sectional area
between the die cavity and the compact when it is
removed fron the cavity, the areas of the two may
be assumed to be equal without affecting the accu-
racy of the analysis.
TRANSACTIONS OF
THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY OF AIME
 The r eduction of the dial-gage readings vs a p-
plied-pressure data to give average compact d 'n-
sity at ze?'o p?'e sslwe vs pressure may be obtai neo
through the use of Fig. 1. The relationship betw('cn
zero-pressure density and the applied pressure in-
dicates the compact density, measured after re-
moval from the die, which may be obtained by pres-
sing at the given pressure. In terms of Fig. 1, by
loading the die to the point S, a density character-
istic of the point T is obtained. Thus, we may con-
sider the curve S T to be a curve of constant zero-
pressure density. The zero-pressure density of the
compact may be calculated for any pressure P up
to P max ' assuming that, if we would have unloaded
the die after having reached, for instance, point M
(pressure P), we would have proceeded along curve
MN, such that
x -Uo = lp -up [1]
and, by vertical displacement, curves MN and OT
can be brought into coincidence. The average zero-
pressure compact density, PR " may be calculated
o p
from the general expression
Pp
o
= WI Vp 0 [2]
where W is the weight of the powder in the compact
and VPo is the calculated compact volume which
would be measured experimentally if the pressure
were dropped from the value P to zero; i.e., the
volume of the compact at point N.
Actually, the volume of the compact at point N
may be express,ed as
VPo = ex -uo + to)·A
Substituting from Eq. [1],
VPo = (lp -up + to)·A
Thus, from Eq. [2],
W
If a calculation based on a zero-volume reading, a,
is desired, the substitution
to = Uo - a [4]
may be made in Eq. [3]. In general, experimental
data and calculations based on to will be made more
easily and will have greater inherent accuracy,
especially in the more important high-pressure
range, since actual measurement of the compact
establishes the denSity value at P max' However, for
materials whose compacting characteristics are
desired, but whose poor interparticle coheSion, even
at the maximum pressure, does not permit their re-
moval from the die intact, the density calculations
must necessarily be based on a zero-volume meas-
urement.
At-pressure densities may be obtained from punch-
movement data as a function of the applied pressure
by modifying Eq. [3] to take into account the axial
elastic compressive strains in the punches. In
terms of the notation used previously, the at-pres-
TRANSACTIONS OF
THE METAllURGICAL SOCIETY OF AIME
10r--------------------------c~~-r~~
F. N. w
--<I
······ ·10
F,
HI
- 18
9 8
- --0 ell
-- - Jf/ ...
16
6
14
i~ 8 6
),. /" 12
10
4
3
6
10' 10'
'''USU''I. , I I.
Fig . 2- Zero-pressure denSity-pressure relationships for
-200 +250 mesh electrolytic iron. -140 +200 mesh chem-
ically preCipitated copper. -250 mesh nickel. and - 15~
tungsten powders .
sure density, Pp, may be shown to be:
W
= ~-------,--;---;- [5]
p (l p + ep - U o + to) . A
where ep is the elastic strain in the punches at the
applied pressure, P. It should be noted that Eq. [5]
differs from Eq. [3] in the substitution of (ep - u o)
for up. If the at-pressure density calculation is to
be based on a zero-volume reading, a, Eq. [4] may
be substituted into Eq. [5].
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
To test the accuracy of Eqs. [3] and [5J in the
calculation of density-pressure curves, compacts
wer e pressed from an electrolytic iron powder and
a chemically precipitated copper powder at pres-
sures of 10,000, 25,000, 50,000, 75,000, 100,000, and
120,000 psi. The data obtained from each preSSing
was used to calculate both zero-pressure and at-
pressure densities at lower pressures using Eqs.
[3] and [5 J. The 90 pct confidence intervals, de-
termined from a "t" distribution,· on zero-pres-
sure densities at pressures in the range investigated
averaged about ± 0.05 g per ce. Comparisons of den-
sities of compacts pressed at 10,000, 25,000, 50,000,
75,000, 100,000 psi with densities calculated from
data obtained by compacting at higher pressures
gave an average error of about 0.06 g per cc. It may
therefore be concluded that Eq. [3] is valid for the
powders used and for the range of pressures em-
ployed in the present investigation. Further, it is
probable that this equation would also apply for all
powders having pressing characteristics similar to
those of the iron and copper powders used.
The results of calculations of at-pressure den-
sities for both the iron and copper powders did not
yield as good reproducibility as those for zero-
pressure values because of the difficulty in obtain-
ing values of Uo in Eq. [5]. The double-action fea-
ture of the die caused the unloading curve to level
out at about 200 lb, the force of the supporting
springs. This prevented the zero-pressure data
VOLUME 221, AUGUST 1961-673
 2.5..------------------, 3.0 ..----------------:---,
- - 0 FI
·····6 HI
_ . - { J Cu

--..q W

2.0

.;
.....o -I~
e .I
'"
.;
~ 1.0
C/)
z
w
o

0 .5 GRAPHITE
o ':-0--'--2'-...I.--4'-...I.--e'-...I.-....J"L-..I...-...J10L-..I...-.....12'--"--..J14.104

PRESSURE. ",".1.

o ~-------------~--------------~ Fig. 4-1n (l/l-D) vs pressure for -200 +250 mosh elec-
3 4 trolytic Iron. -140 +200 mesh chomlcally preolpitated
10 10
cepper. -250 mesh nickel and .... 15/-1 tungsten powders.
PRESSURE. p". I.
Fig. 3-At- pressurc and zero-pressure density-pressure volume of the specimen increased upon release of
relationships for artificial graphite powder. the pressure as a result of both elastic expansion
of the graphite particles and sliding of particles
point from being obtained directly and necessitated over each other, thus bringing about a condition of
an extrapolation to obtain uo. The at-pressure den- poorer packing.
sities (p p) for both iron and copper powders aver-
aged slightly greater than the zero-pressure den- DISCUSSION
sities (PPo)' but the dispersion of the data, as in- If the compaction of powders is considered to be
dicated by 90 pct confidence intervals, averaged analogous to a first-order chemical reaction, the
about twice as large as that for the zero-pressure pores being the reactant and densification of .the
values. Relative at-pressure densities· could not bulk of the product, the "kinetics" of the process may
-Relative density Is defined as the ratio or the density or the be described by a proportionality between the change
compoct (p) to thot or the met III without porosity. in density with pressure and the pore fraction.
be obtained because an unequivocal measurement of dD
(I-D)
I the change in density of iron and copper free of voids dP
under the state of stress imposed by the die could
not be made. or
Fig. 2 shows the zero-pressure relative density- dD
pressure curves for iron, copper, nickel, and tung- - = K (I-V) [6]
dP
sten powders. The maximum applied pressure for
the copper, nickel, and tungsten powders was re- where:
stricted to avoid extraction difficulties which were D is the relative density,
encountered with the iron powder.
The high elastic moduli of most metals render P is the pressure,
the difference between at-pressure and zero-pres- I-D is the pore fraction,
sure densities quite small. However, graphite, hav-
ing a modulus of about 1 x 10 8 psi, should exhibit a and K is a proportionality constant.
sizeable difference. Fig. 3 shows both at-pressure In order to reduce this to a more 'usable expression:
and zero-pressure density-pressure relationships
dD
for an artificial graphite powder. The lack of reli- (I-D) = KdP
able data on the density of void-free graphite neces-
sitated the expression of density as g per cc. It D dV p
should be noted that a 14 pet decrease in density j(I_D)=KjdP
Do 0
comes about by releasing the applied pressure from
75,000 psi. This is almost twice the change in den- where Do is the relative density of the loose powder
sity which should occur on the basis of elastic at zero pressure. Therefore:
changes in the graphite particles if a modulus of 1
In (I-Do) -In (I-D) = KP
x 108 psi is assumed correct for these conditions.
This information would seem to indicate that the or
TRANSACTIONS OF
674-VOLUME 221, AUGUST 1961 THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY OF AI ME
1
! #

Tabl. I. Values of Constanh A and K from Eq. [11] for Various

It is postUlated that in Eq. [8] the constant A
Metal Powders Along with the Lower Limit of Linearity of the D,ata which is always somewhat larger than [In (1/l~Do)],
Lower
represents the degree of packing achieved at low
Limit, pressures as a result of rearrangement processes
Powder A psi before appreCiable amounts of interparticle bonding
Iron (electrolytic -200 + 250 take place. It is also postulated that the constant K
mesh) 0.79 1.73 x 10-' 25,000 the slope of the linear region, gives a measure of the
Copper (chemically precipi-
tated -140 +200 mesh) 0.71 1.65 X 10-' 30,000 ability of the compact to density by plastic defor-
Nickel (-325 mesh) 0.85 1.22 x 10-' 25,000 mation.
Tungsten (- IS/I) 0.60 8.18 x 10- 6 15,000 The values of A and K from Eq. [8] for the metal
powders are given in Table I along with the lower
limit of linearity of the data.
In (l~D) =liP + In (l~n)a [7] The ability to express the compaction behavior of
powders in terms of the constants A and K has sev-
The validity of this analysis was checked by plotting eral advantages. The mathematical expreSSion of
In (Ill-D) vs P for the metal powders already dis- the density-pressure relationship of a given powder
cussed. The results are shown in Fig. 4. Although necessarily permits the analytical determination of
the data do not lie on a straight line over the entire the density values in the range of pressures investi-
pressure scale, linearity exists over 65 to 80 pct of gated and also permits extrapolation to pressures in
the pressure range studied and would seem to in- excess of those available experimentally. Most im-
dicate that extrapolation of the values to even higher portant, though, is the fact that the constants quan-
pressures would be justified. The nonlinearity in the titatively describe the compaction behavior of a
early stage of compaction is probably due to th e ef- given powder. The evaluation of the constants A and
fect of rearrangement processes in the powder and K in terms of powder properties and the manner of
the general behavior of the powder as individual compaction is currently underway at this Laboratory.
particles rather than a coherent mass. The ultimate goal of this research will be the quan-
Since the curves in Fig. 4 exhibit some curvature titative determination of the density-pressure curves
at low pressures, Eq. [7] does not describe the from basic data on powders and the compaction I

process quantitatively. The replacement of the term process.

[In (l/l-Do)] in Eq. [7] with a constant, A, gives an
expression, Eq. [8], which is quantitatively valid CONCLUSIONS
except at the lowest pressures. 1) Both zero-pressure and at-pressure density- '

In (I!D) KP A
= + [8]
pressure curves for a given powder may be deter-
mined from punch-movement data for a single pres-
To see if the transition from nonlinear to linear sing operation.
behavior in Fig. 4 can be associated with bonding, 2) Density-pressure data indicate that the rate of
a -80 + 140 mesh alumina powder (which densifies change of density with pressure at any pressure is
by crushing) was compacted in the same manner as proportional to the pore fraction in the compact at
the metals. In this case there was little interparti- that pressure.
cle bonding and the plot of In (l/l ..... D) vs P did not 3) There is little difference between zero-pres-
have a linear region over the pressure range studied sure and at-pressure densities for iron, copper;
(0 to 75,000 psi). All of the densification came about nickel, or tungsten powders~ since they are char-
as a result of crushing and rearrangement of the acterized by relatively high elastic moduli. On the
individual particles. This is shown by the fact that other hand, there is a large decrease in density of
65 pct of the alumina particles after pressing were graphite compacts upon r'e leasing the applied
less than 140 mesh, the minimum size of the orig- pressure. This may be accounted for both by elastic
inal powder, and 38 pct were less than 250 mesh. expansion of the compact and sliding of particles as
From this information it is concluded that the the pressure is removed.
curved region in a plot of In (i/l-D) vs Pis asso- 4) Density-pressure curves may be described by
ciated with densification which takes place by a mech- two parameters. It is postulated that one is related
anism of individual particle movement in the absence to low pressure densification by interparticle mo-
of interparticle bonding. It was also found that the tion and the other is a measure of the ability of the
transition from curved to linear behavior in the compact to densify by plastic deformation after ap-
powders whose compaction curves are shown in Fig. preciable interparticle bonding has taken place.
4 corresponded closely with the minimum pressure
necessary to form a coherent compact. Therefore, REFERENCES
it is concluded that the densification which is rep-
resented by the linear region of a plot of In (l/l-D)
'P. Schwarzkop(: Powder Melal/grll, Mlcmlllan, Ne .. York, 1947.
vs P occurs by plastic deformation of the compact 'Metal Powder A •• ociatlon, Standord 4-45, 1945.
after an appreciable amount of interparticle bonding 'Metal Powder A •• ociatlon, Standard 10-50, 1953.
"P. G. Hoel: InlrmiMel;on 10 Malla .... 'jea/ SIGII.,;e., John WlIey and Sona,
has taken place. Ne .. York, 1948.

TRANSACTIONS OF
THE METALLURGICAL soclm OF AIME VOLUME 221, AUGUST 1961-675
 HECK RW 6 2 0173

I
A Normalized Density -Pressure
Curve for Powder Compaction
R. W. Heckel

IT has been shown previouslyl,Z that the effect of

applied pressure on the density of a metal powder
may be expressed by a relationship of the form:

In 1~D=KP+ln1_~o +B [1]

1.0
,#If'
-
.~ .... ... '1- _ d
~ •

...... ' l":~ ----

0. 9
. .~: .....
_" ,..f,t'
... """ ...
. __ ,--

.'.JO'." ,. .. .....
~
,,~

0
0.8 , ~I , .
;;. ,. "1/,
1 . ,
'
'Vi " i /I~ /
c: O. 7
CI.I '! ./ ,I
0
Q) .I./-
. I' I
>
..., 0.6 ...:.(/
:;::;
Qj i ./
0:=
( "
0. 5 :'

0.4
0. 0 0.5 1.0 1..5 2. 0 2. 5
P
Reduced Pressure. -3
(To
Fig. 1-Normalized density-pressure curve.

R. W. HECKEL, Junior Member AIME, is Research Metal-

lurgist, E.!. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., Experimental
Station, Engineering Research laboratory, Wilmington, Del.
Mdnuscript submitted February 21, 1962. IMD

vOLUME 224, OCTOBER 1962-1073

 Table I.
Description of the various powders whose density-pressure curves are normalized In Fig. 1.

Compaction Parameters
Powder Partlc Ie Size Source A
Iron" -40 . 80 Mesh Charies Hardy Co. 0.67 1.86 x 10-'
Iron· -80 +140 Mesh Charles Hardy Co. 0.73 1. 91 x 10-'
Iron· -140 +200 Mesh Charles Hardy Co. 0.68 1.99 x 10-'
Iron" -200 +250 Mesh Charles Hardy Co. 0.73 1. 91 x 10-'
Iron" -250 Mesh Ch aries Hardy Co. 0.77 1.81 x 10-'
Iron b -140 +200 Mesh George Cohen Co. 0.70 1.90 X 10-'
SAE 4630 Steel -80 Mesh Vanadium Alloy Steel Co. 0.68 1.08 x 10-'
Spherical Nickel -140 +200 Mesh Linde Co. 0.92 1.38 x 10-'
Spherical Nickel -250 Mesh Linde Co. 0.98 1.56 x 10-'
Annealed Nickel -250 Mesh Charles Hardy Co. 0.87 1.48 x 10-'
Spherical Copper -140 +200 Mesh Linde Co. 0.72 3.81 x 10-'
Spherical Copper -250 Mesh Linde Co. 0.90 3.00 x 10-'
Tungsten - 151' Charles Hardy Co. 0.62 0.76 x 10-'
·Star Grade (Electrolytic)
bSlntrex (E lectrolytic)

where: data for different powders to a common set of axes

D is the relative density. of the compact
1- +Relative density Is defined as the ratio of the density of the com-
pact to that of the metal without porosity.
Do is the relative apparent density of the powder
P is the applied pressure, and
K and B are constants
Eq. [1] is valid above the pressure necessary to
achieve interparticle bonding, which takes place
within the range from 5000 to 25,000 psi depending
on the powder. Experimental observationsl! have
shown K to be related to the nominal yield strength
of the powdered metal by the following equation:
K = 2.08 x 10-e + 0.320 ~ function of applied pressure on the die. This
<70
or
, . K ;;_1_
3<70
where <70 is the nominal yield strength of the metal.
In addition, it was found that B is a function of the
size and shape of the powder particles; B de-
creases as the particle size decreases and as the
shape of the particles becomes more spherical.
For spherical particles, B is approximately zero.
In a survey of the effect of various powder and
processing variables on the density-pressure re-
lationships of powders,3 it was found that increases
in Do were almost always accompanied by decreases
in B. In general, the sum:
In _1_+ B =A
1-D o
was approximately constant, the median value being
about 0.75, with 86 pct of the values falling in the
range of 0.60 to 0.90. In comparison to the wide
spread in values of K (7.6 x 10-e psCl for a tungsten
powder to 3.8 x to-5 psi- l for a copper powder), the
value of A remains relatively constant.
~qs. [1] and [2] , and the relative insensitivity of
the parameter A to powder and processing variables;
make it possible to normalize density-pressure
by plotting relative density, D, vs reduced pressure,
P/3<70' Fig. 1 shows such a plot for the powders iden-
tified in Table I. The solid curve represents a least-
squares fit of the data; the vertical bars give the
95 pct confidence limits on the line. Also shown in
Fig. 1 are the approximate tolerance bands
(dashed lines) for future data points obtained under
the same experimental conditions which were used
to obtain the original data. These bands have a 95 pet
probability of including 90 pct of all future data
points.
All of the density data were calculated from
measurements of die punch movement as a
method has been described in detail previously.l
The data in Fig. 1 were obtained by using a tensile
[2]
bar die with a cavity specified by the Metal Powder
Association. 4 The pressing was carried out at 6000
psi per min on a Baldwin tension test machine. The
data were taken over the range of pressures from
zero to 100,000 psi. The values for the nominal yield
strength of copper, iron, nickel, SAE 4630 steel, and
tungsten were taken to be 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and
100,000 psi, respectively.&-7
Fig. 1 may be used to approximate denslty-
pressure data for powders undergoing die com-
paction where the yield strength of the metal is
known. The figure is limited to die compaction only.
However, it should be possible, at least in theory,
to construct a similar diagram for hydrostatic
compaction if sufficient density-pressure data are
obtained.
JR. W. Heckel: Trans. Met. Soc. MME. 1961. vol. 221. p. 671.
'R. W. Heckel: Trans. Met. Soc. A/ME. i961. vol. 221. p. 1001.
·R. W. Heckel: Progress in Powder Metallurgy. Proceedings of
Seventeenth Annual Technical Meeting of lite Metal Powder Industries
Federation, 1961.
'Metal Powder Association. Standard 10-50 1953.
• •
C. J. Smlthells: Meta/$ Reference Book. Intersclence Publishers.
New York, 1949.
'Metol& Handbook. ASM. Cleveland. 1948.
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TRANSACTIONS OF
1074-VOLUME 224, OCTOBER 1962 THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY OF AIME