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Publication Abstract

Comparison of Density Measurement Techniques for Large P/M Components

Stone, T.W., Tucker, L., Williams, T. N., Hammi, Y., El Kadiri, H., & Horstemeyer, M. (2008). Comparison of Density Measurement Techniques for Large P/M Components. Advances in Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials. Princeton, NJ: Metal Powder Industries Federation. 11-84-11-96.

In this paper, three different techniques to measure the density of a fairly large PM automotive component are compared. The different methods include a standard immersion density method, image analysis using optical microscopy, and 2D X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT). The density measurements were carried out on a set of main bearing caps, which were cut into three different layers, and each layer into several pieces. Using the immersion density measurement, the average density was determined for each piece. Density values were also determined with an image analysis technique by measuring the pore area fraction on identical polished samples. In the case of the 2D X-Ray CT method, images of attenuation measurements were converted to average density values using image processing. Finally, density measurements were compared for each piece of the main bearing cap.