Production of products that is carried out by powder metallurgy is possible only on specialized equipment. Their nomenclature can be divided into products of structural, anti-friction and special purposes. The latter is made from materials with special properties. Special purpose products cannot be manufactured by alternative methods.
Powder metallurgy involves the manufacture of metal powder products. Such details are surprisingly accurate and do not require further processing.
However, the production technology itself is not complex. It is based on the old method of manufacturing ceramics, the difference is only in the raw materials used. Due to the fact that this method is economical and simple, it quickly stood at one step in competition with forging, casting, stamping and other methods of manufacturing metal parts.
Along with the fact that production is constantly being improved and developed, new technologies and materials are being mastered, the assortment of manufactured products is growing, which include powder metallurgy products.
If the plant accepts an order for the manufacture of a new part, then it must develop a drawing of the future product based on the drawings of the customer, a drawing of equipment and a press tool, and related documentation. If necessary, the same plant performs research and experimental functions that provide the initial development and testing of a new product. Additional equipment and a press tool are also manufactured.
Parts manufacturing process
Powders are different. It is worth noting that such a variety as powder steel is not the hardest. Certain properties are given to powders depending on their further use. The process itself takes place in a special apparatus or ball mill, in which pieces of metal, shavings, scraps are crushed, and the created air flows cause these pieces to grind. Metals that are fusible are sprayed in liquid form, which is carried out by means of compressed air, which directs metal sprays onto a disk moving in a circle. Frozen metal droplets break into even smaller particles. The result is powders in an electrolysis bath or by chemical reactions.
Then the powder is poured into the mold of steel, and it is subjected to high pressure. Its particles are interconnected, and the finished part is obtained. Next is sintering. In furnaces with a high temperature, the elements obtained are heated. Particles, as it were, merge, and a sufficiently dense and homogeneous mass is formed. So, the product is considered completely finished. Sometimes two processes are connected together, this greatly saves time. In this case, the powder is heated to the desired temperature by current and pressed into the appropriate form.
Product Scope
Powder metallurgy provides great opportunities for the production of parts for various brands of cars. By this method are made:
- transmission and steering parts;
- components of locking fittings;
- spools, rotors, pump housings;
- rotors for electric motors;
- bushings, bushings, bearings;
- sprockets, gears, flanges and more.
In addition, the hardness of the powder parts allows you to make cutting tools from them, the heat resistance allows you to use them in the braking system of aircraft, agricultural machinery and cars. In order to obtain parts that meet different characteristics, it is enough to mix the powders of several metals. Such parts are used in rocket engines, gas turbines, nuclear reactors.
Powder metallurgy allows the production of metal compounds that cannot be obtained using smelting furnaces. Its development is due to the fact that some metals cannot be processed by standard methods. Currently, metal powders are mixed even with analogues of plastic, glass and minerals. This method allows to obtain even more versatile products in terms of their properties.