The significance of metal powder for metal metallurgy
Metal powder is the basis for realizing large-scale production of non-standard metallurgical products
Metal powder refers to a collection of metal particles with a size smaller than 1mm. It includes single metal powder, alloy powder, and certain refractory compound powders with metal properties. Metal powder is the main raw material for powder metallurgy, which involves using metal powder (or a mixture of metal powder and non-metallic powder) as raw materials and utilizing processes such as molding and sintering to manufacture metal materials, composites, and various types of products. The development and application of metal powder are closely tied to the continuous innovation of powder metallurgy technology.
The important changes brought about by powder metallurgy technology are mainly reflected in two aspects：
- The development of new materials and key products. For example, the development of powder metallurgy ductile tungsten wires in 1909 and the introduction of hard alloys in 1923 revolutionized industries such as cutting and machining, mining, and drilling. Moreover, powder metallurgy technology has enabled the development of refractory metals, electrical contact materials, and magnetic materials, which have provided crucial components for electrification systems and communication equipment since the 1930s.
- Advanced molding process for producing high-performance metal mechanical parts. This technology allows for near-net shaping of materials, resulting in high material utilization rates (about 95%), increased production efficiency, energy savings, and environmental protection. Additionally, it enables the direct production of complex-shaped and highly precise powder metallurgy products. Consequently, the powder metallurgy machinery parts industry has rapidly developed worldwide, becoming a significant component of modern manufacturing.
Currently, the rapid development of new industries such as new-generation information technology, new energy, and intelligent manufacturing demands higher-quality materials, including ultra-high-performance powder metallurgy products. The new materials industry is advancing towards greening, low-carbonization, refinement, and economization. The progress of new-generation information technology, Internet technology, new sensing technology, and automation technology plays a crucial role in promoting the research and development process of the new materials industry. Metal powder finds extensive applications in automotive, aerospace, electronics, machinery, construction, and other fields. As industrial upgrading and green manufacturing become more prominent, there is a growing demand for high-precision and lightweight components. Conventional production methods cannot adequately meet these requirements, but advanced powder metallurgy processes such as metal powder injection molding (MIM) and metal powder additive manufacturing (3D printing) offer efficient solutions for producing non-standard components at relatively low costs.
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