Copper Powder for Metallurgy

Powder metallurgy is a forming and fabrication technique using metal powders. In powder metallurgy, initially the powder is injected into a mold or passed through a die to produce a weakly cohesive structure (via cold welding) very near the dimensions of the object ultimately to be manufactured. Pressures of 10-50 tons per square inch are commonly used.  Finally, the parts are placed in a kiln, applying high temperature, during which self-welding occurs without melting.

Copper powder alone or in a mixture with other metal powders is used in powder metallurgy for making different metal parts.

Metal powders open up new possibilities for creative and cost-effective design solutions.

Almost 80% of global Copper and steel powder production is converted into sintered components. The manufacturing process involves the shaping of a tailor-made powder formulation by pressure and heat (sintering). Sintered components offer design freedom, almost 100% material utilization and many other benefits.

Over 40 million sintered components are produced every day for use in numerous applications including vehicles, power tools and white goods.

The automotive industry is the main user of sintered components, which are common in transmission and engine applications. It is in the automotive area that sintered components have made the most spectacular advances. Many of the early parts for vehicles, such as the bushings and bearings introduced in the 1960s were simple shapes. Components of today can be made in highly complex designs and meet the industry's demands for strength and tolerances.

A modern automobile contains on average 10 kg of sintered components, but there are big variations depending on its origin. US automobiles tend to have far more sintered components than those produced in Asia. 

The use of sintered components is increasing outside the automotive sector, but there is still a huge potential. Parts produced from powder serve special functions
in power tools, white goods, appliances, air-conditioners, computers, lawn movers, locks and pumps. These are just a few examples and the possibilities are endless.