Benefits of Powder Metallurgy over Conventional Metal Fabrication

October 11, 2022

Many industries nowadays utilise various metal fabrication techniques to make sure that they can produce their needed parts and products. Some of these techniques include cutting, assembling, casting, welding, and bending.

One common thing with these metal fabrication techniques is they carry out their processes against solid metal sheets and metal plates. Another thing that these techniques can provide is they can make metal workpieces to be much more resistant to temperatures and other damaging elements. These fabrication techniques can also make sure that the desired dimensions of parts and products will be achieved in a short time.

But one process that industries gradually maximise today is powder metallurgy. Powder metallurgy is a process that produces parts and products out of powdered metals.

The Working Principles of Powder Metallurgy

Different steps are involved in carrying out powder metallurgy. These steps include powder preparation, mixing, blending, compacting, and sintering.

Powder preparation involves the preparation of metal materials before being converted into powdered form. One type of powder preparation process that industries can utilise is melt atomisation. This process is carried out by breaking down liquid metal into tiny droplets before cooling and solidifying it into small particles. Some more types of powder preparation include chemical reduction, grinding, thermal decomposition, and electrolytic deposition.

Mixing and blending, subsequently, are done by combining metal powders, binders, and lubricants so that the final parts and products can attain the needed properties of industries. The next step after these processes is compacting. This process involves pressing and compressing the previously stated mixture into its intended shape or form factor. The purpose of compacting is to minimise voids and enhance product density.

Sintering, ultimately, is carried out by subjecting compacted metal parts to temperatures below their melting point. The purpose of this step is to squeeze the powder mixture tightly until its porous spaces are closed. It also intends to make the parts stronger.

All the Key Advantages of Powder Metallurgy

So, what makes powder metallurgy advantageous over conventional metal fabrication techniques?

One of the advantages of powder metallurgy over conventional metal fabrication techniques is they can save a lot of money. Powder metallurgy can process a wide array of materials in one go, which may be difficult to achieve with some metal fabrication processes. And with its ability to mass produce parts and products, industries do not have to consume too much energy throughout the process, allowing them to obtain lower energy bills. Money is also saved with powder metallurgy since its materials can be obtained easily.

Time is also conserved with powder metallurgy. As mentioned earlier, powder metallurgy only involves a couple of processes before the final parts and products are produced. With a minimal number of operations, producing parts with powder metallurgy is expected to be more efficient than other metal fabrication processes.

Powder metallurgy is also more beneficial than conventional metal fabrication processes as it can improve the properties of the products. The addition of materials during the mixing and blending phases allows powder metallurgy to produce parts with better wear resistance and sound damping properties. Powder metallurgy workpieces can even dampen vibration, which often damages products made from conventional metal fabrication processes.

To find out more about powder metallurgy, you can contact us at PM Distributors.

Optimized by: Netwizard SEO