Sustainability Of Powder Metallurgy Processes

    Powder metallurgy has been recognized by the industry as a green and sustainable manufacturing process technology. The powder metallurgy process only needs to use a few processes to manufacture the same part, that is, it can complete the process with more and more complex processes. MIM metal injection molding is powder micro-injection molding. In order to facilitate the manufacture of microstructures, due to the increased specific surface area of the powder, a binder with low viscosity but sufficient strength is required. Usually, this technology is often used to produce  MIM-lock cases, powder metal pulleys, and other products.

    In terms of material sustainability, powder metallurgy's final formability is its main advantage. In the production process of powder metallurgy parts, the waste loss of each process is generally 3% or less, and the material utilization rate can reach 95%.

    In terms of energy sustainability, the general traditional manufacturing process needs to go through several heating and reheating steps before the final shape; when the atomization method is used to produce steel powder or iron powder, only the scrap steel needs to be smelted once, and all other thermal processing. The work is carried out at a temperature below the melting point, which not only saves energy but also can be made into the final shape and the required material properties and mechanical performance. Through the comparison of the material utilization rate of the metal forming process, it is found that the energy required to manufacture powder metallurgy parts is 44% of forging a machined part.

    In terms of environmental sustainability, due to the final formability characteristics of powder metallurgy, in general, finished parts are made after sintering, which can be packaged and delivered. In most cases, the cutting oil used in the processing of powder metallurgy products is insignificant, and the toxic pollutants released by pollution sources such as cooling water are also very small. Compared with other manufacturing processes, the powder metallurgy parts industry has little harm to the environment.