Powder Metal Microwave Sintering

Everyday metallic objects can now be made stronger, harder and longer-lasting thanks to a new process being developed that usese microwaves to sinter together powdered metals to form hard-wearing components ranging from small cylinders to automotive parts.

Using microwave technology has the advantage of heating the entire volume of the product rather than relying on the conduction of thermal energy throughout the part. The electromagnetic energy of the wave is efficiently converted into thermal energy helping to produce a finer grain size in the finished product than is produced through traditional sintering. These finer grains help improve the mechanical properties of the finished product as the finer round-edged pores give the finished product a higher ductility and toughness.

The team have so-fart spent little time analysing and understanding the science behind the process but once the team achieves this, says the project leader Professor Dinesh Agrawal, the new technology will be used for manufacturing metal parts for various applications. He argues, "Microwave processing offers a new method for meeting the demands of producing fine microstructures and better properties, at potentially lower cost."

This item is due to appear as "Metal parts from microwaves" by Dinesh Agrawal, in the November issue of Materials World, Volume 7, Issue 11.

Materials World

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