A method for densifying a surface of a powder metal part, includes blending a plurality of powdered metals to form a powder metal blend, actuating an upper punch and a lower punch to apply pressure to the powder metal blend to compact the powder metal blend, sintering the compacted powder metal blend in an oven, forming the compacted powdered metal blend into the powder metal part, heating a portion of the surface of the powder metal part, and densifying the portion of the surface of the powder metal part for a predetermined period of time after the portion of the powder metal part is heated to a predetermined temperature.

Provided herein are methods of preparing a metal foam that include the steps of forming a metal foam precursor with a slurry comprising a metal component, a dispersant, a binder and an antisolvent, and sintering the metal foam precursor. Such methods may provide metal foams having various pore sizes. Methods further include forming a thin metal foam on a base material.

A multi-step method to produce materials, and coatings of materials, which has three key characteristics. The first is that the density of the resulting materials or coatings can be controllably and widely variable from less than ten percent of normal density up to normal density. The second key characteristic of the invention is the use of starting materials having powders that have grains (particles) with one, two or three dimensions on the size scales of nanometers or micrometers. The third major characteristic part of the invention is the use of microwave radiation or induction heating to quickly raise the temperature of the powders to produce materials or coatings before deleterious diffusion and densification can occur. These features produce new types of materials with properties favorable to many applications, such as chemical and other catalysis, electrolysis in batteries and fuel cells, and light weight structural components.

A multi-step method to produce materials, and coatings of materials, which has three key characteristics. The first is that the density of the resulting materials or coatings can be controllably and widely variable from less than ten percent of normal density up to normal density. The second key characteristic of the invention is the use of starting materials having powders that have grains (particles) with one, two or three dimensions on the size scales of nanometers or micrometers. The third major characteristic part of the invention is the use of microwave radiation or induction heating to quickly raise the temperature of the powders to produce materials or coatings before deleterious diffusion and densification can occur. These features produce new types of materials with properties favorable to many applications, such as chemical and other catalysis, electrolysis in batteries and fuel cells, and light weight structural components.

A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. The liquid portion couples to at least some of the second powder and subsequently solidifies to provide a composite component.

A method of and apparatus for sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film may reduce or eliminate the stress in the film and may facilitate processing of continuous length of films such as ceramic films for use in batteries. The precursor powder can be provided on a substrate and is simultaneously heated and pressed in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area. Notably, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area or the material received therein.

The present application provides a method for manufacturing a metal foam. The present application can provide a method for manufacturing a metal foam, which is capable of forming a metal foam comprising uniformly formed pores and having excellent mechanical properties as well as the desired porosity, and a metal foam having the above characteristics. In addition, the present application can provide a method capable of forming a metal foam in which the above-mentioned physical properties are ensured, while being in the form of a thin film or sheet, within a fast process time, and such a metal foam.

The invention relates to a manufacturing system and method for manufacturing a part. A negative powder forms a holder suitable to hold particles of a positive powder in proximity to one another. A connection scheme such as heating, the use of pressure and/or a binder, when employed, connects the particles to one another to form the part.

The invention relates to a manufacturing system and method for manufacturing a part. A negative powder forms a holder suitable to hold particles of a positive powder in proximity to one another. A connection scheme such as heating, the use of pressure and/or a binder, when employed, connects the particles to one another to form the part.

The present application provides a method for manufacturing a metal foam. The present application can provide a method for manufacturing a metal foam, which is capable of forming a metal foam comprising uniformly formed pores and having excellent mechanical properties as well as the desired porosity, and a metal foam having the above characteristics. In addition, the present application can provide a method capable of forming a metal foam in which the above-mentioned physical properties are ensured, while being in the form of a thin film or sheet, within a fast process time, and such a metal foam.