In-plant technical presentations for the non-metallurgist offered by F.A.S.T., Inc.

These presentations are designed to educate furnace operators, lead people, process engineers, metallographic technicians, and metallographers. These papers represent over 40 years of experience in the powder metal industry both in metallography and sintering atmospheres.

These presentations are designed with the lay person in mind, so that everyone can understand the message delivered and no one's time is wasted.

The titles, description, and approximate
time of each presentation are as follows:

METALLOGRAPHY

"Selection and preparation of metallographic specimens" Designed mostly for P/M companies, which have limited facilities and knowledge of metallographic sample selection, preparation, and etching. It is also helpful to someone just installing a metallographic laboratory with limited space and finances. This paper will illustrate how excellent microstructures can be acquired without a lot of fancy equipment and expensive perishables such as diamond pastes. In addition, it will discuss many different time saving techniques for the metallographic technician. Approximate time: 30 to 45 minutes. "Microstructures of Iron and Iron Alloys" Designed to explain (through pictures and bar graphs) what actually takes place inside of a compact during the sintering process and the effect on the physical and mechanical properties of that compact. This presentation covers four basic systems: iron, iron-carbon, iron-copper, and iron-copper-carbon. This presentation is for the metallurgist, process engineer, and furnace operators. Again, this is presented, for the most part, in layman's terminology. Approximate time: 45 min. to 1 hr. "Problem solving through case histories" Designed to help the metallographer and metallographic technician understand how to identify structures and determine why they exist. (It is sort of a detectives approach to determining what "really" caused a certain defect or condition within the compact.) This presentation will cover several actual problems and the approach used to solve them. Approximate time: 30 to 45 min.

FURNACE AND ATMOSPHERES

"Atmosphere and furnace problem solving" Designed for furnace operators, maintenance people, and engineers. Explains the various atmospheres and their compositions: safety issues, typical atmosphere flow rates, and recommended atmosphere distribution. In addition, it will cover desired dew points and residual oxygen levels required for a good and consistent sintering operation. Also, how an air or water leak can be determined by the color of the oxide on the part and how to determine the origin and location of the leak. Approximate time: 1 hr. "Delubing P/M Compacts using Steam Injection" Explains a new approach for delubing P/M compacts by adding moisture to the sintering atmosphere. This presentation describes how the moisture is injected, recommended injector design, effect on physical and mechanical properties of the compacts and effect on stack emissions (in relation to EPA standards). How this addition of moisture can result in cleaner parts with less possibility of blistering and increased copper infiltration. Also, there is a very brief video showing the actual effect on furnace components due to reduced carbon deposits. Approximate time: 30 to 45 min.

The number of people attending and location is at the discretion of the customer. The pricing will depend on the number of presentations and location of the facility.

Again F.A.S.T., Inc. looks forward to serving you with the best service at a reasonable cost. Please contact us by calling;
(814)-427-2228 or fax (814)-849-4951.
Email: gjmars@windstream.net

©2001 F.A.S.T., Inc.