Powdered Metallurgy Process Overview

Step One:

Creating the Right Blend for Durability, Reliability, and Accuracy

The first step in the powdered metallurgy process overview is blending carefully selected and portioned raw powders such as copper, tin, zinc, iron, and nickel into metal alloys such as bronze, brass, iron nickel, or iron copper.

Step Two:

Compacting the Mixture to Precise Specifications Under Controlled Pressure

The second step in the PM process is compacting, which is the step that gives the finished parts their shape. The combined metal powders are fed into dies and compressed with mechanical or hydraulic pressures to compact the powder into a relatively stable unit of the size, shape, and density required.

Step Three: 

Heating or "Sintering" to Create a Permanent Form

The third step in the PM process is heating or sintering the compacted metal powders in special high-temperature furnaces to bond the particles of metal and additives together and create the desired properties in the finished product. In some cases, secondary operations such as repressing, coining, or sizing are performed after sintering to produce required properties in the finished component.