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Why is Bronze a Good Material to Use for Sintering?

November 27, 2020

Sintering is a heat treatment process that is applied to a compacted part at a temperature lower than the melting point of the base metal. The temperature of the said process allows the particles of the compacted part to be welded to one another through the solid-state diffusion mechanism.

The sintering process can impart strength, integrity, high-dimensional precision, and effective functionality to the product. It can also reduce the amount of oxygen on the surface of the powder, reduce pores, and partially or fully diffuse other elements in the existing mix of the compacted part. Numerous metals can benefit from sintering. One of the metals that can benefit from the features of sintering is bronze.

Properties of Bronze

Bronze is an alloy that is comprised of copper and tin, which can be integrated with other alloying elements such as zinc and tin. It has a deep brown colour and a golden sheen that makes this specific alloy noticeable right away.

For centuries, the default structure and formation of this specific alloy have been the go-to material for fabricating domestic and industrial tools and products due to their high strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and even appearance. But with the mixture of other elements, numerous types of bronze alloys are now integrated to daily fabrication and production of products and components since they are now harder, more durable, and can resist more damaging elements.

Bronze for Sintering

And given the characteristics and properties of bronze, numerous manufacturers utilise it in producing sintered parts and components. Being a non-ferrous metal, bronze can likewise allow air and liquids to pass through it, which is integral to the whole process of sintering.

Subjecting bronze material to the whole sintering process can guarantee substantial properties that make it great for domestic, commercial, and industrial use. While the physical properties of the bronze remain unchanged during the entire sintering process, some properties such as material strength, translucency, and thermal conductivity are altered and even enhanced during the same process.

The sintering process for bronze is somehow similar to other metals. The bronze or bronze alloy undergoes grinding, chemical decomposition, or atomisation so it can turn into powdered form. Afterwards, the metallic bronze powder is poured into a mould cavity, on which it will be compacted under immense pressure at room temperature. Once the particles are compacted, the metal part now undergoes sintering through inserting it into a high-temperature furnace so that the metal particles will finally fuse together.

Sintered Bronze Parts

Numerous products today are made from sintered bronze parts. From bearings or bushings to wear plates, they all benefit from the features added by the sintering process to the bronze or bronze alloy. Food and pharmaceutical industries also utilise sintered bronze parts when it comes to manufacturing filtration materials, tools, and system components. Manufacturers, alternatively, take advantage of sintering as the process can work on large quantities of products in just a short time.

For more information about sintered bronze parts, you are free to contact us at PM Distributors.

 

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