Key Characteristics of Metal Powders that Can Affect Their General Performance

September 8, 2022

Many materials are often used in creating parts and products for industrial applications. Metals, for instance, are normally converted into construction materials, electronic components, vehicles, and food processing parts. Plastics, alternatively, are used to produce packaging materials, industrial machinery, and textiles.

But when it comes to creating tiny components and parts of machines and tools, industries would often turn to metal powders.

Metal powders are metal materials that have been converted into powder form. Their particles would normally have sizes of 25 to 200 micrometres, making them compatible with the processes related to powder metallurgy.

The Benefits of Sintered Products

Powder metallurgy is a process conducted with metal powders. This process involves the production of metal powders, compaction and shaping of the powders, and fusing the compacted powders into solid metal products and components. The consolidation and fusion of the compacted metal powders are done through high temperature and pressure. The final products of this process are ultimately known as sintered products

What is great about sintered products is they can yield various complex geometries. They can also boast precise specifications and dimensions, which may be difficult to achieve with other materials. Sintered products likewise have good mechanical characteristics, making them durable and resistant to elements that often damage others. Lastly, sintered products are cost-effective since they do not need to be replaced or repaired regularly.

Characteristics of Metal Powders

All the benefits and qualities of sintered products can truly help industries carry out their operations without any problems. However, not all of them can perform effectively.

The performance of these products would often rely on the characteristics of the metal powders used. Some crucial characteristics of metal powders are as follows.

• Particle Size: The particle size of metal powders normally influences the porosity of the compact, mould strength, permeability, flow and mixing qualities, and dimensional stability. For powder metallurgy, the particle size of metal powders would normally range between 25 to 200 microns. Opting for metal powders below or above this range might affect the quality of the sintered products negatively.

• Particle Shape: Particle shape is another characteristic of metal powders that can affect their performance later on. Some of the most common shapes of metal powders are spherical, rounded, angular, sub-rounded, and sub-angular. The shape of metal powders normally affects their packing and flow qualities.

• Chemical Structure: Metal powders are mostly comprised of multiple alloying elements. They may also boast some impurities, which can be checked and confirmed through chemical analysis methods. Knowing the chemical structure of the metal powders can help manufacturers know their potential particle hardness and compressibility.

• Apparent Density: Apparent density is the weight of a loosely heated amount of metal powders that are needed to fill a die cavity fully.

• Particle Microstructure: Another characteristic that metal powders boast of is particle microstructure. It determines the phases, inclusions, and internal porosity of metal powders.

•Flowability: One more characteristic of metal powders that can affect their performance is flowability. Metal powders with good flowability can easily fill a mould cavity quickly and uniformly, producing products of high quality.

To gain access to sintered products, you can contact us at PM Distributors.

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