Powder metallurgy is a mechanical process that involves forming, joining and strengthening of components through a blend of metals and other substances. It is a very important industry, as it plays a major role in manufacturing parts for the automotive, weapons, and aerospace industries, among others.
The powder metallurgy process usually starts with a blend of metals, typically iron or steel alloys, that are created into a powder form. The powder is often mixed with additives, such as lubricants, carbon, graphite, and other elements, and it is placed into a die. The die is then pressed by an industrial press and heated to an ultra-high temperature. This process creates the desired shape and structure in the powder. After the part has cooled down and retained its shape, it is then further treated to strengthen, refine or add other necessary properties and functionalities.
The majority of powder metallurgy processes use powdered sintering. During this process, carbon dioxide is induced into the iron or steel powder of the component and it is heated to a high temperature, which may exceed 2000°C. This creates a strong and dense bond between the individual powder particles, eventually forming a solid component structure. This process is an efficient way to craft intricate and hard-to-manufacture components, such as sprockets, fittings and other customized parts.
The components produced by a powder metallurgy process often have uniform porosity and density, which makes them ideal for creating strong and wear-resistant parts. Additionally, they can be selectively protected against corrosion by using galvanic coatings and other treatments.
The versatility of powder metallurgy has driven its widespread usage in the manufacturing of variety products, ranging from car and truck components to bearings, tools and mechanical parts in general. It is also increasingly used for medical and dental applications, particularly in the manufacturing of hip joint prostheses and dentures, because it is a very economical way to produce complex and customized parts.
Powder metallurgy is a unique process that provides an efficient way to produce parts of almost any shape and size. Its versatility and affordability make it a highly popular process for a wide variety of industries.
