Physical properties of a nickel-base alloy prepared by isostatic pressing and sintering of the powdered metal.

The physical and mechanical properties of samples of a nickel-base alloy fabricated by powder metallurgy were determined. The particle sizes of the powders used to make the samples varied from -80/ +200 mesh to -325 mesh. The compaction pressure varied from 138 to 414 MN/m2 and the sintering temperature varied from 1150 to 1250 degrees C. The shrinkage during processing, the porosity, tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and elastic modulus were used to characterize the samples. The strength of the samples generally increased with decreasing particle size of the powder and increasing compaction pressure and sintering temperatures. The porosity and strength, therefore, could be varied over a wide range by controlling the various parameters. The properties of the samples prepared by powder metallurgy were compared with those of the cast alloy and compact bone. Conditions can be selected that will yield equivalent or better properties by powder metallurgy than by casting.