Sintered Stainless Steel Parts

The stainless steel sintering process typically follows these steps:

Blending
The sintering process begins by blending the necessary powdered metals into a uniform mixture. Typically, the initial material is an iron-based powder mix, which is combined with different alloying elements depending on the property requirements of the finished product. Blending also involves the addition of a solid lubricant, which serves to reduce friction between the surface of the compaction tool and the powder mass.

Compacting
During the compaction phase, a predetermined amount of the powder mixture is fed into the die cavity before it is compacted with a force up to 45 tons per sq inch. The resulting material has an approximate density of 85% to 95%. After compaction, the “green” part has the desired shape, but not the final dimensions. Because of this, allowances are made to accommodate the shrinkage that occurs during the sintering stage.

Sintering
The last step is sintering. This stage involves placing the “green” part into a furnace at a temperature just below the metal’s melting point. Stainless steel parts are typically exposed to temperatures up to 2350° F. During sintering, the powdered particles fuse together and form a molecular bond, enhancing the part’s mechanical properties.