High Temperature Sintered Powder Metal Parts

High temperature sintering of ferrous powder metal parts, i.e., sintering above the conventional temperature range of 2050-2100F, can provide improved physical and mechanical properties, a widening scope of unique material systems, and new opportunities for growth of the P/M industry. Three specific aspects of this technology are reviewed: (1) the reasons for considering high temperature sintering, (2) the materials/properties which have been developed through this technique, and (3) selected applications found in the automotive industry. By selecting high temperature sintering the material undergoes further densification, improved particle bonding, and more spherical porosity but at the expense of grain growth and dimensional control. The impact of this process on the critical properties of selected P/M components for use in automotive appplications are discussed with special consideration for the material systems and properties which necessitate the high temperature sintering process.