Metal Powders Processes The industries of Metal Powders manufacturing and Powder Metallurgy parts manufacturing came into modern day prominence about 70 years ago. Since then, several types of both metal powder and powdered parts manufacturing processes have been developed and are still practiced. The major processes used are described below. Direct Reduction (sponge iron), Gas Atomization, Liquid Atomization, and Centrifugal Atomization are all processes in use today. Click here for the app note Direct Reduction Purified iron oxide ore, combined with a carbon source like coke, is heated to high temperatures usually in a rotary kiln. The product is sponge ... Read More

Additive Manufacturing (AM), aka 3D printing, is the fastest growing manufacturing process in the world today. One of its many advantages is the ability to quickly manufacture a custom product without the expensive set-up costs required for tooling for mass production. Another is the ability to produce more complex, high strength, custom parts, often without sub-assembly or subsequent machining operations. AM is made up of many different types of operations which range from simple overlay printing, with liquid or filament plastic feed material, for example, to particulate feed ranging from plastics to ceramics to metal powders. Metal Powder AM is ... Read More