Powder metallurgy (PM) is an industry where materials or components are made from metal powders. Powder metallurgy is also used to make unique materials impossible to get from melting or forming in other ways. Products made by this process are many and varied including aerospace components, medical devices, sintered filters, porous oil-impregnated bearings, electrical contacts and diamond tools.
Ceramics are traditionally used in PM where heat is introduced to the process. This can be where the metal powders are initially manufactured or subsequent heat treatment and annealing processing of the final parts produced.
For the production of metal powders Anderman Industrial Ceramics is frequently involved in designing systems for both molten metal containment (crucibles and tundish systems) and also for atomising processing whereby the molten metal is turned into powder for the PM process. Our experience covers a wide range of metal alloy powders in many industry sectors.
Once a part is produced by PM technology it is required to undergo a heat treatment process for sintering and annealing. Depending on the part composition this can be between 900 and 1400 C and be in either a vacuum or air controlled environment. Throughout all of this the use of ceramics is critical whether it be for kiln environment protection or physical support of the complex parts when they are subjected to elevated temperatures near to their melting point.
Anderman experience in both refractory and technical ceramics (complex engineered shapes) makes it an ideal partner for companies producing parts by this manufacturing technology.
