Numerical study of hard-metal powder compaction

Powder compacting is a widely used process for both metallurgy and pharmaceutical production. The mathematical simulation of the powder compaction process is a promising tool for its study. The compacting of WC/Co powder by a punch in a cylindrical die is simulated in this work. The use of the Drucker-Prager Cap constitutive model is made. Results on stress distribution and volume plastic deformation during compaction are obtained. Relative density distribution in the powder compact can also be estimated from volume plastic strain. The severe influence of frictional contact between powder and die wall on the results is noted