Applications of Powder Metallurgy

1. Powder metallurgy technology in the automotive industry

We know that many of the auto parts are gear constructions, and these gears are made by powder metallurgy. With the improvement of energy saving, emission reduction requirements, and the application of powder metallurgy technology in the automotive industry, more and more metal parts will be produced by powder metallurgy.

The distribution of powder metallurgy parts in automobiles is shown in Figure 2. Among them, there are shock absorber parts, guides, pistons, and low valve seats in the chassis; ABS sensors, brake pads, etc. in the brake system; pump parts mainly include key components in the fuel pump, oil pump, and transmission pump; engine. There are conduits, races, connecting rods, housings, variable valve timing (VVT) system key components, and exhaust pipe bearings. The transmission has components such as a synchronous hub and planetary carrier.

2. Powder Metallurgy in the Fabrication of Medical Instruments

Modern medical appliances are in great demand, and the structure of many medical appliances is also very sophisticated and complex, so a new manufacturing technology is needed to replace the traditional production. Nowadays, metal powder metallurgy can mass produce products with complex shapes within a short period, which can meet the manufacturing requirements of medical appliances and become an ideal manufacturing method.

（1）Orthodontic bracket

Metal powder metallurgy technology was first used in medical treatment to produce some orthodontic appliances. These precision products are small in size. The main material used for them is 316L stainless steel. At present, orthodontic brackets are still the main products of the metal powder metallurgy industry.

（2）Surgical tools

Surgical tools require high strength, low blood contamination, and corrosive disinfection procedures. The design flexibility of metal powder metallurgy technology can meet the application of most surgical tools. It also can produce various metal products at a low cost. Step by step replaces the traditional production technology and becomes the main manufacturing method.

（3）Knee implant parts

Metal powder metallurgy technology is progressing slowly in human body implantation, mainly because the certification and acceptance of products need a long time.

At present, metal powder metallurgy technology can be used to produce parts that can partly replace bones and joints. Ti alloy is the main metal material used.

3. Powder metallurgy in home appliances

In household electrical appliances, the early stage of powder metallurgy was mainly to make copper-based oil-bearing. Difficult parts, such as compressor cylinder head, cylinder liner with high precision and complex shape, and some products with specific performance have also been developed successfully.

Most Washing machine is automatic at present. For example, General Electric Company of the United States has redesigned two steel parts in the gearbox of the “agitated” automatic washing machine: lock tube and spin tube into powder metallurgy parts, which has improved the production cost and product quality, reduced the production cost of materials, labor, management cost, and waste loss, and saved more than 250000 US dollars annually.

At present, China’s household appliances have entered a stage of steady development. The quality of household appliances and their materials is becoming increasingly important, especially the powder metallurgy materials widely used in household appliances. Some home appliance materials and parts can only be made by powder metallurgy, such as porous self-lubricating bearings of refrigerator compressors, washing machines, electric fans, and some home appliance materials and parts are made by powder metallurgy with better quality and lower price, such as complex shape gears and magnets in the exhaust fans of home air conditioners and vacuum cleaners. In addition, powder metallurgy plays an important role in maintaining ecology, protecting the environment, and saving materials and energy.