What are metal powder products?

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How metal powder is used in manufacturing

Metal powder products are created using powder metallurgy with a variety of processes including:

  • Powder forging

  • Hot isostatic pressing

  • Metal injection

  • Electric current assisted sintering

  • Additive manufacturing (3D printing, selective laser sintering etc.)

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Products made from powdered metals are ones that need to be made with more precision than the traditional manufacturing processes can produce. Examples are automotive or aerospace parts, or other parts required is manufacturing, such as gears, turbine discs or medical devices.

Powdered metals are often used to facilitate lubrication, corrosion resistance or to create alloys.

Some examples of metal powders commonly used in manufacturing products:

  • Aluminum Powder – Its flammable properties make it ideal for fireworks and pyrotechnics.

  • Bismuth Powder – Used for the production of batteries and in the creation of welding rods.

  • Cadmium Oxide Powder – Cadmium oxide powder is often used to create silver alloys and for glazes used on ceramics and for plating steel.

  • Granular Copper – Granular copper is most commonly used to make self-lubricating bearings.

  • Iron Powder – Common uses of iron powder include the making of magnetics and magnetic products, printing, fortifying iron and creating friction products, like brake pads.

  • Manganese Powder – Manganese powder is most often used in the steel and iron industries to create alloys for the manufacturing of tools and machinery.

  • Nickel Powder – Nickel powder is combined with other metals in applications where corrosion resistance is a must, like in the marine industry.

  • Nickel and Nickel Chromium Alloys such as Inconel 718 and Inconel 625 are used in the arospace industry.  Inconel is actually the name of the person who created the alloy and it is part of a group of alloys known as super alloys.
  • Red and Black Cupric Oxide – Most commonly used for wood treatment and as pigments in glazes and ceramics.
  • Tin Powder – M and SW grade tin powders are primarily used in spray-on applications for corrosion resistance.
  • Zinc Powder – Zinc powder is incredibly versatile. It can be used to manufacture galvanized steel and to create brass. are used in the arospace industry. 

Choosing the Right Powdered Metal for Your Product

When selecting metal powders to create a product there are a number of factors to consider. The most important factor is the metal or alloy type, and should be selected based on the service conditions of the end product being manufactured. Other criteria include the powder’s mechanical properties such as tensile strength and yield strength, important for determining how the material will act under stress in application.

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For more detailed information on choosing the right metal powder for manufacturing see our Guide to Purchasing Powdered Metals, or contact us for a consultation and free quote. 

 

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