POWDER METALLURGY PROCESS


POWDER METALLURGY PROCESS

Powder metallurgy is used for
manufacturing products or articles from powdered metals by placing these powders in molds and are compacting the
same using heavy compressive
force. Typical
examples of such article
or products are grinding wheels, filament
wire, magnets, welding
rods, tungsten carbide cutting tools, self-lubricating bearings electrical
contacts
and turbines blades having
high temperature strength. The manufacture of parts by powder metallurgy
process involves the manufacture of powders, blending, compacting,
profiteering,
sintering and a number
of secondary operations such as
sizing, coining, machining, impregnation, infiltration,
plating, and heat treatment. The compressed articles are then heated to
temperatures much below their melting points to bind the particles together
and improve their strength and other
properties. Few non-metallic materials can also be added
   to the metallic powders to provide adequate
bond or impart some the needed properties.
The
products made through this process are very costly on account of the
high cost of metal powders as well as of the dies used. The powders of almost
all metals and a large quantity
 of
alloys, and nonmetals may be used. 
The application of powder metallurgy process
is economically
feasible only for high mass production. Parts made by powder metallurgy process exhibit properties, which cannot be produced by
conventional methods. Simple shaped parts can be made to size with high
precision without waste, and completely or almost ready
for installation.

POWDER METALLURGY PROCESS

The powder metallurgy process consists of the following
basic steps:

1. Formation of metallic powders.

2. Mixing or blending of the metallic
powders in required
proportions.
3. Compressing and compacting the powders
into desired shapes and sizes in form of articles.

4. Sintering the compacted articles
in a controlled furnace atmosphere.

5. Subjecting the sintered articles
to secondary processing if needed so.
 


Leave a Comment