Utilisation of silicon rubber to characterise tool surface quality during die compaction

Abstract

A new methodology was developed to observe and measure tool wear and tool surface quality during the die compaction process. The newly developed method is a non-destructive test that relies on silicon rubber to transcribe the inner surface profile of the compaction die. After verification of the method, aluminium and iron alloy powders were compacted to quantify tool wear and tool surface quality with two die materials, tungsten carbide and tool steel. The tool surface quality was quantified by recording surface roughness of the die replicas on a surface profilometer.