The present research establishes a relationship of bulged diameter with densification and hydrostatic stress in forming of sintered iron (Fe) powder metallurgy preforms cold upset under two different frictional conditions, namely, nil/no and graphite lubricant condition. Sintered plain carbon steel cylindrical preforms with carbon (C) contents of 0, 0.35, 0.75 and 1.1% with constant initial theoretical density of 84% and aspect ratio of 0.4 and 0.6 were prepared using a suitable die-set assembly on a 1 MN capacity hydraulic press and sintered for 90 minutes at 1200 °C. Each sintered preform was cold upset under two different frictional constraints. It is seen that the degree of bulging reduces with reducing frictional constraints at the die contact surface. Further, it is found that the bulging ratio changed as a function of relative density and hydrostatic stress, respectively, according to the power law equations.

A complete experimental investigation on the instantaneous strain-hardening behaviour of powder metallurgy preforms of Fe-0.35%C was carried out. The strain hardening behaviour of the above-mentioned P/M sintered steel preforms with aspect ratio of 0.4 and 0.6, respectively, under triaxial stress state condition was determined by cold upsetting under nil/no and graphite lubricant conditions. The instantaneous strain hardening value (n i), strength coefficient (Ki), and the stress as a function of strain and densification were obtained and analyzed. Further, a relation is obtained from a semi-log plot of stress against relative density. This was analyzed to study the hardening behaviour due to the densification as applied stress is a function of induced strain as well as of densification in the powder metallurgy materials.

The major concern of the design for manufacturability is to accomplish the require deformation without failure of work material. The degree of deformation that can be achieved in a particular metal forming process without creating condition is termed as workability. The present investigation pertains to study the cold workability behaviour of Cu-7%Al-1.8%Si sintered preforms. Cold upsetting of these preforms with various aspect ratios were carried out and the working behaviour of the preforms at various stress state conditions was computed. The analysis measured for different components such as stress formability index and obtained density during secondary deformation as a function of induced strain. Similarly various computed stress ratio parameters with induced strain.