Powder Metallurgy (PM)

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A wide range of finished and semi-finished engineering components are produced using PM manufacturing technology.

PM can be used to process almost all types of metal and metal alloy powders which are consolidated into the desired shape by a variety of processes such as die compaction, injection moulding, isostatic pressing, forging and extrusion. Following consolidation, the component is sintered or in some cases hot pressed to provide it with strength through metallurgical bonding of the powder particles.

Applications for PM parts include high performance bearings, intricate parts produced by metal injection moulding (MIM), diamond tools, magnets, sintered filters, porous bearings, friction materials and electrical components such as capacitors, contacts and carbon brushes. The automotive industry in particular is a large consumer of PM parts.

Ronald Britton’s copper (spherical, irregular and dendritic) and copper alloy powders find wide use in the PM industry. The density and melting point of copper powders make them an ideal choice for blending with iron powder for pressed and sintered components as well as for sintered brake parts. Our irregular bronze powders, Cu/Sn/Ag alloys and silver powders are used as matrix material in diamond tools. BESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswy