Densification modelling for nanocrystalline metallic powders

A model for densification of metallic powders is proposed. It involves viscoplastic constitutive equations based on dislocation density evolution and also accounts for effects of porosity using a pressure-dependent critical density yield criterion. The model was applied to the case of cold compaction of nanocrystalline copper under uniaxial compression conditions. Densification behaviour during powder compaction was simulated using an explicit integration method as applied to the dislocation density evolution and the variation of the relative density of the compact. The model was gauged by comparing the experimental data generated by cylindrical die compaction tests on Cu powder with the simulation results. The model accounts for the grain size and the deformation rate dependence on the densification process. The proposed densification model was implemented into a finite element code. The finite element method was applied to simulating room temperature die compaction of nanocrystalline Cu powder in order to investigate the densification behaviour.