Unconventional methods of sintering Inconel 718 MIM samples

In this investigation, three different consolidation ways for Inconel 718 MIM samples are compared. The conventional sintering in a furnace is compared to field assisted hot pressing (FAHP) and microwave sintering. By accelerating the sintering kinetics, the thermal behaviour may be modified. Hence, the behaviour of the Inconel 718 sintered by field assisted and microwave sintering has been investigated. The sintered samples were all injected from a feedstock composed of a fine particle Inconel powder and a binder principally composed of cellulose acetate butyrate and polyethylene glycol. The effects of the different process on the microstructure and the mechanical properties are then compared. There was no difference in distribution of pores between the conventional and the FAHP sintering. The microwave sintering of a metal injection moulding brought defects during the test and lower properties were obtained. This paper is part of a special issue on the Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies (AMPT) 2015 and has subsequently been revised and extended before publication in Powder Metallurgy.