Proper Cleaning of Sintered or Porous Metal Parts

February 26, 2021

There are a lot of metal parts out there that have been maximised by a wide variety of industries. Some are made from newly extracted metal ore, while others are fabricated out of recycled metal sheets. Several manufacturing processes also use powder metals in creating parts and components.

Sintered metal parts are parts and components that are made from powder metals. These specific metal parts are created by numerous processes, allowing them to manifest some characteristics and properties that can be truly useful from specific applications.

Knowing Sintered Metal Parts

Powder metals undergo several procedures just to successfully create sintered metal parts that can be helpful in numerous situations and applications. These procedures are covered under the powder metallurgy process, which is a manufacturing process that involves powder metals.

Sintering is a powder metallurgy process that utilises small metal particles in creating sintered metal parts. The initial sintering phase starts by blending. It is performed to combine various powder metal materials, alloying elements, and additives, creating a uniform mixture that allows the final product to contain material properties and minimise friction during the subsequent phases.

Once the blending is done, the mixture will now undergo compaction. During this phase, the mixture is pressed by specific tools for it to produce a specific shape. The final dimensions of the sintered metal parts will only be obtained during the final phase, which is also known as sintering. The sintering phase is done by heating the blended powder mixture in the furnace so that its components can finally bond together. The mechanical properties and dimensions of the metal parts during sintering are improved.

Typical Cleaning Procedures

One great thing about the sintering process is that it provides great control over the porosity of a sintered metal part. Acquiring a material with high porosity can establish a porous filter, which is known to control the particles that will be eliminated from the fluid being filtered. Components that are not intended to be in a component can be easily filtered and trapped on porous metal parts.

But one aspect that should also be considered when it comes to porous metal parts is their cleaning procedures. Some porous metal parts can be cleaned easily, while others can pose serious challenges. In cleaning sintered or porous metal parts, ultrasonic cleaning can be effective all the time. However, to ensure that the parts will be thoroughly cleaned, more cleaning procedures must be done.

Letting the cleaning liquid pass through the porous metal parts must be done alongside the ultrasonic cleaning procedure. This additional process can effectively remove contaminants that are inside the metal parts since sprays, agitation, and ultrasonics can fail in reaching the interiors. Providing flow in a direction opposite to the metal parts can likewise be done to remove trapped particles. Cleaning with a vacuum can also help in cleaning sintered or porous metal parts.

Working with PM Distributors

If you want to gain access to porous or sintered metal parts, you can contact us at PM Distributors. Our wide range of stock allows you, the customer, a ready source of supply to meet your needs. For longer runs, ask us for a highly competitive quote.

 

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