E-IJPM: Vol. 44/4 - MPIF

STATE OF THE PM INDUSTRY IN NORTH AMERICA—2008
52
Figure 5. PM
acquisitions
since 1990
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
Faced with macroeconomic and marketplace
challenges, the PM industry continues to invest in
new technology. Developments in metal powders,
equipment, and processes are leading the way to
higher-performance materials and new applications.
Metal powder suppliers are developing new
materials to achieve higher densities and improved
properties. One manufacturer is promoting a
material to achieve a density of 7.5 g/cm 3 by single
pressing and sintering. The company has completed
a project on surface densification of gears to
pore-free density with a core density of 7.5 g/cm 3 .
A PM parts maker has improved its surface-densification
technology from single-level parts to complex
multilevel gears and sprockets. Another
powder maker has developed a new material that
increases the fatigue limit of powder-forged connecting
rods by 30 percent.
Soft magnetic composite powders are finding
application in new three-dimensional (3D) designs
for electrical applications.
While copper-powder usage has declined for
traditional PM applications, thermal management
and bioscience markets offer attractive growth
opportunities. Copper’s antimicrobial properties
could open up new applications in healthcare.
Compacting-press makers are developing new
technology. Some examples are presses offering
up to 11 levels, enabling more net-shape parts,
tonnages up to 2,450 mt (2,700 st), hybrid servo
systems, and new warm-compaction heating and
delivery systems.
MPIF and the PM industry have been investing
in new technology through the MPIF Technical
Board and the CPMT.
The MPIF Technical Board has taken over the
PM Roadmap Committee, which has assessed the
6-year progress of the PM Vision & Technology
Roadmap. The committee is currently assessing
the status and use of high-temperature sintering
and PM compacting presses. As cited earlier,
another project, the PM Automotive Parts Catalog,
is almost completed. It is a living document to
assess the total number of PM parts in a typical
automobile and will be used to expand the use of
PM technologies by determining what new applications
can be developed.
The CPMT will have spent >$200,000 since
2006 for studies on single pressing to full density
and in developing new fatigue data for PM materials.
The new fatigue data will engender more confidence
in selecting PM materials among design
engineers.
Investment in new technologies is vital to the
success and future growth of the PM industry.
Our industry has been through many up-anddown
cycles over its history, and has always survived
into the next growth phase. We are still a
relatively young industry with a great potential.
Innovation will prevail, as witnessed by the powerful
technical program at this massive World
Congress and Tungsten Conference with nearly
500 formal technical presentations.
Yes, despite the challenges in adjusting to an
ever-changing North American automotive marketplace,
our industry’s future remains bright
indeed. ijpm
Volume 44, Issue 4, 2008
International Journal of Powder Metallurgy