As we all know, powder metallurgy is an advanced material preparation technology that has been handed down for a long time and meets the modern production.
It began with ancient lump iron smelting and ceramics technology and has since evolved into the modern powder-based manufacturing process.
Ancient techniques expanded with the use of platinum in the 18th–19th centuries and rapidly advanced throughout the 20th century.
Today, it ranks among the most dynamic fields in new materials science and technology, as classified by scientists.
Powder Metallurgy Materials
This technology provides energy and material savings, superior properties, high precision, stability, and facilitates mass production.
Materials and parts that are difficult to machine or cast can be effectively produced through powder metallurgy, making it a highly valued technique in the industry.
Conventional Powder Metallurgy Materials
Iron-based powders are key traditional materials, playing a vital role in the rapidly growing automotive industry.
Various industries widely use iron-based powders in household appliances, agriculture, electronics, and more.
Sintered copper-based parts are characterized by good corrosion resistance, a smooth and clean surface and non-magnetic properties.
Copper-based materials include sintered bronzes, brass, nickel-silver, copper-nickel, strengthened alloys, and Cu-Mn for vibration damping.
Advanced Powder Metallurgy Materials
New energy materials are the foundation of the new energy industry, crucial for green batteries, hydrogen energy, fuel cells, and nuclear energy.
Current research targets hydrogen storage, lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and thin-film solar cells.
Preparation technology based on powders holds a vital role in all materials research and development.
Bioceramics repair or replace bones, teeth, and tissues, restoring physiological functions.
Materials produced through powder techniques contribute significantly and competitively to national defense and the military industry.
In addition, the aerospace, nuclear, and military weapons industries widely use powder metallurgy materials.
Powder Metallurgy Technology
Advances in alloying, molding, and sintering have increased global interest and application of these powder-based methods.
The development of powder metallurgy technology
Mechanical alloying is a kind of high-energy ball milling technology for making alloy powder proposed by Benjamin and other scientists.
Mechanical alloying uses high-energy ball milling to repeatedly deform, fracture, weld, and diffuse metal powders, forming alloy powder.
The industry applies spray drying as a systematic technology for drying materials.
It is in the drying room will be thin material after atomization, in contact with hot air, moisture vaporization, get dry products.
Thus obtaining powder granular products of a powder preparation process.
The development of powder molding metallurgy technology
Powder injection molding merges traditional powder techniques with advanced plastic injection molding for near-net shaping.
Powder injection molding materials evolved from basic iron and carbide to advanced nickel superalloys, titanium, and niobium.
In the field of application of materials from the structural materials to the development of functional materials.
Thermocompression molding is a new technology that developed rapidly in the 1990s.
Thermoforming uses special powders mixed with lubricants, heated to 130–150°C for molding, then densified by sintering.
Since the 1980s, developed countries have advanced Rapid Solidification Powder Metallurgy (RS PM) with new material preparation and molding technologies.
Spray Forming, or Spray Deposition and Spray Casting, is a new technology for preparing and forming materials based on the RS PM process.
Spray Forming forms alloy blocks in one step, cutting powder handling, sintering, oxidation, and costs versus traditional RS PM.
Development of powder sintering metallurgy technology
Sintering involves heating powders or billets in an appropriate environment.
The sintering process is a key factor in powder metallurgy product performance and has been a research focus.
New sintering methods include microwave, electrical discharge, ion sintering, self-propagating synthesis, and sinterhardening.
Conclusion
Powder metallurgy is a key technology for improving materials and advancing modern materials science.
Innovations in powder-based techniques will advance high-tech and defense sectors, securing a promising future for materials engineering.
China’s powder-based materials industry has grown quickly but still trails behind global leaders.
Promoting innovation in powder-based technologies to enhance China’s products and narrow the gap with global leaders is a top priority.