The Impact of the Energy and Materials Resource Problems on Powder Metallurgy

Before the rise of “stagflation” as the catchword of the times, American industry was struggling with another: “Energy.” Ecology and environmental protection also achieved stardom with the populace, aided considerably by the media. But “materials resources” or lack thereof has not succeeded in gaining this kind of public attention. “So what if we have only a 30-day supply of chromium? Automobiles could do with less gaudy trim anyway,” seemed to be the general attitude. Industry, however, especially the metalworking industry, has become well aware of the materials problem this nation is facing and the fact that it is indeed a real problem. Industry is also painfully aware of the other problems-ecology, environmental protection, energy conservation, and so on-because it too often finds itself being blamed as the cause.