Influence of temperature during pressure-assisted induction sintering (PAIS) on structure and properties of the Fe40Al intermetallic phase

Pressure-assisted induction sintering (PAIS) method was compared with other methods, such as spark plasma sintering (SPS) or hot pressing (HP) applied nowadays in industry, to achieve dense sinters. The advantages of the PAIS method over the other methods were presented and problems which need to be overcome in order to make the PAIS method widely used in industry, were pointed out. The experimental results for the Fe40Al intermetallic sinters obtained by the PAIS method, were given. The low pressure assisted sintering process was performed at the temperatures of: 720, 850, 900, 950 and 1000 °C and the analysis of density, porosity, hardness, phase and chemical composition and microstructure observation, was done. After the analysis of the Fe40Al sinters, the homogenization process of all samples at temperature of 1200 °C for 5 h was performed and the sinters were analyzed again. [Display omitted] •Induction sintering is a useful method for rapid manufacturing of solid Fe40Al.•The 870 °C constitutes a border after which a significant change of properties occurs.•After crossing this temperature, close and open porosity decreases meaningfully.