3D 분말 프레스 성형 기술을 활용한 텅스텐 합금 반지 연구

초록

With the recent steady rise in precious metal jewelry prices and shifting consumer trends, interest in alternative materials with high hardness and durability is growing. Tungsten alloys, in particular, are attracting attention for their potential as jewelry materials due to their silvery-white metallic luster, high hardness, excellent wear resistance, and room-temperature oxidation resistance. However, tungsten’s high melting point and machining difficulty limit the ability to achieve precise shapes and ensure production efficiency using conventional cutting methods alone. This study aimed to establish a tungsten alloy ring manufacturing process using WC–Co tungsten alloy powder as the raw material, utilizing a 3D powder press molding process. The purpose was to analyze the formability and sintering characteristics according to process conditions. In the powder mixing step, 2% of No. 52 solid paraffin was added as a binder relative to the powder weight, and 10% of the binder weight was added as a dispersant to ensure homogeneous mixing. The mixed powder was melted, stirred, solvent removed, and dried in a vacuum drying oven at 85°C for 24 hours. A ring-shaped compact was then manufactured through press molding. Following a step-by-step debinding process, the compact was sintered in a vacuum sintering furnace at temperatures above 1420°C for approximately 4 hours. Experimental results demonstrated that under these conditions, a ring-shaped compact was manufactured without cracks or dimensional deformation, and stable densification behavior was observed in the 1420–1450°C temperature range. Furthermore, near-shape molding was demonstrated to minimize machining and improve material utilization. However, surface microcracks tended to develop depending on sintering conditions and powder properties, highlighting the need for precise control of process variables. In summary, this study suggests that the 3D powder press molding process is an effective manufacturing method for tungsten alloy rings, achieving both shape fidelity and production efficiency. Furthermore, it suggests the need for future process optimization research to enhance sintering stability and expand shape freedom.

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