Tip for Problem 1

You have just shown your supervisor what you made in the lost foam casting practica. They suggest that you make something similar out of tantalum. Explain how you would do this using powder metallurgy. Assume your supervisor is confused because "We are not melting the tantalum and pouring it into an atomizer to make powder but we do not make it by grinding? How do we make powder without melting the tantalum?"

This is a thought question To help you prepare the answer consider the following.

• Why would one use powder metallurgy (or processing) to make a part out of tantalum?
• Try describing the process in laymans terms
• What are the key steps? Why are they important?
• Which atomization process would you use to make tungsten powder? Why?
• It is not necessary to have completed the lost foam casting practica to complete this question.