Originating from ancient ceramic and iron smelting techniques, 1909 marked the beginning of the modern powder metallurgy era. After more than a hundred years of development, it has become an important engineering technology in modern economy and science and technology.
Characteristics and advantages:
Materials and products are manufactured by using metal powders as raw materials through molding and sintering.
Advantages:
Avoid segregation of components and ensure uniformity of materials.Near-net-shape forming reduces processing and material waste.
High material utilization rate (over 90%), lowers costs and boosts efficiency.
Material properties can be precisely controlled to meet special requirements.
Powder metallurgy process flow
1. Powder preparation:
Mechanical crushing method: low cost, but the powder shape is irregular.Atomization method: gas atomization is suitable for high-performance parts, while water atomization is often used for common products.
Reduction method: high purity, but high cost.
Electrolysis method: extremely high purity, but low efficiency.
2. Forming:
Mold pressing: suitable for simple shapes, high efficiency.Isostatic pressing: suitable for complex shapes, uniform density.
Injection molding: suitable for high-precision small parts, but binder treatment is complex.
3. Sintering:
Conventional sintering: heating in a specific atmosphere to increase density and strength.Hot-pressing sintering: sintering under pressure to enhance performance.
Spark plasma sintering (SPS): rapid heating, used for nanomaterials.
Application fields
1.Aerospace:Superalloys are used for engine components, and titanium alloys are used for structural parts.
2. Automobile manufacturing:Applied to engines, transmissions, and braking systems, it enhances performance and lifespan.
3. Electronic Information:Used for electronic components, heat dissipation substrates, and contact materials.
4. Mechanical manufacturing:Manufacture gears and bearings to enhance transmission efficiency and reliability.
5. Medical devices:For artificial joints, surgical instruments, and dental materials.
6. New energy:Used for lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and wind power generation components.
Summary
Powder metallurgy technology, with its unique advantages and wide applicability, has become an indispensable material preparation technology in multiple fields, promoting the progress of modern manufacturing and science and technology.