Powder metallurgy products have been widely used in the ship

Powder metallurgy technology is a highly efficient, energy-saving new technology, occupies the important position in the economic development. In recent years, powder metallurgy products industry developed rapidly, as technology changes constantly updated, powder metallurgy industry development prospects will be more vast. Powder metallurgy gear can be used in all kinds of hull pump parts, such as piston, filters, etc., the Marine diesel engine parts can be manufactured by powder metallurgy technology.

Due to the complexity of the Marine equipment, operating environment harsh and the installing space is narrow, many equipment parts replacement is very difficult, therefore required equipment has the very good wear resistance. Powder metallurgy gear of oil self-lubricating material with its excellent self-lubricating function, under the condition of all sorts of use has the excellent properties of high temperature resistance. Compared with the traditional craft material, made of powder metallurgy materials have the fine qualities, is very ideal Marine structural materials.

The needs of the powder metallurgy industry is huge, and powder metallurgy gear is huge demand by the shipbuilding industry, these are the factors stimulating the development of powder metallurgy industry. Powder metallurgy is a new technology of comprehensive utilization and can regenerate, it is the key to solve the problem of the new material.

Due to the intense market competition, some enterprises are also changed from competition to cooperation. As companies continue to strengthen the quality of the products and technology innovation, the future of powder metallurgy technology in China will be able compete with the international big companies. 

The global consumption spherical powder for 3D is growing rapidly

3D printing is one of powder metallurgy processing technology. At present, powder metallurgy technology has been widely used in transportation, machinery, electronics, aerospace, weapons, biological, new energy, information and nuclear industry areas and so on, become one of the most active branches of the new material science. Powder metallurgy market in China in 2001-2014 annual compound growth rate reached 21.7%.
3d printing as a most important part of the powder metallurgy molding process, the market space is also in the rapid ascent. In 2017 the global 3d printing used spherical powder consumption has reached more than 800 tons, the estimated consumption years of spherical powder could exceed one thousand tons in 2018.
Titanium powder is the most important metal raw material in 3d printing and is also the highest technical difficulties, in areas such as aerospace, Marine, medical treatment still has a broad market space for development. Qualified 3d printing spherical titanium powder processing is difficult, the yield is low, only a handful of companies can provide relevant products.

China hardware power tools is very popular in central Asia

In the Central Lake market near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Chinese businessmen Chang is working in his operating hardware electric tools workshops. Chang said China's hardware power tools are extremely popular in central Asia.

Central Lake market is central Asia's largest wholesale and retail market, the market is assembled with over ten thousand containers. The channel in the market is complicated as a labyrinth. The first floor is used as stores, the upper is temporary warehouse. Kyrgyzstan was the importance transportation station of the ancient silk road trade. Nowadays, Kyrgyzstan after years of development have become the distributing centre of China radiated to central Asia.Chinese goods shipped to some of the biggest wholesale market first, is the local commonly known as the "bazaar", and then diverted to Kyrgyzstan and the central Asia and other countries in Eurasia.

Despite the recent Kyrgyzstan joined the Eurasian economic union, tariffs will be improved to China. But the Chinese merchant still hope with their many years on the basis of the struggle for the "area" trade unicom to offer their own strength.

Powder sintering became one of the key research technology of titanium alloy

Titanium alloy is a kind of important structural metallic materials developed in the 1950’s, has excellent comprehensive performance. The material has characteristics like small density, light weight, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, flexibility, good elasticity and forming process etc.

Aerospace industry is the biggest consumer of titanium, titanium alloy production has very close relationship with the aerospace investment. Nearly in ten years in the 1990’s, an application for a patent falling back. Since 2000, the titanium alloy related patent quantity appeared obvious growth trend. “On one side, this shows that titanium alloy has potential research space, on the other hand, is has great relationship with our country in recent years, strengthen the related research in the field of titanium alloy.” Document information center of Chinese academy of sciences researchers Chen said.

Most analysis data shows that the technology of titanium alloy is held in Japan (41%), China (22%), the United States (14%) and Russia (8%) of the four countries, the subtotal takes 85% of the global patent.

Learn more:

Automotive and medical MIM parts in Europe and America

Metal powder injection molding technology compared with traditional process, has high precision and uniform
organization, excellent performance and low production cost. Its products are widely used in electronic and information engineering, biology, medical equipment, office equipment, automobile, machinery, hardware, sports equipment, watch industry, weapons, aerospace industry, etc. Therefore, it is generally believed in the international that the development of the technology will lead to a revolution of parts forming and machining technology, is known as "the most popular parts forming technology" and "the forming technology of the 21st century".

Metal powder injection molding MIM technology USES the micron grade powder, can accelerate the sintering shrinkage, helps to increase mechanical properties of the materials, prolong the fatigue life of materials, and can improve the resistance to stress corrosion resistance, and magnetic performance. Global powder injection molding scale currently is still small, but it is little affected in the economic crisis, and is rising steadily. In Europe, its main application fields are cars, North America, mainly in the medical field, Asia is mainly communication products.

At present, China's consumption of iron powder and copper powder has surpassed Japan, is the first in Asia. The main application field for the future of powder metallurgy parts is in the field of automobile. From a technical perspective, the high density of powder metallurgy parts, a new powder metallurgy materials, high efficiency and high precision powder metallurgy equipment is powder metallurgy industry development trend in the future.

China's annual output value of the powder metallurgy industry growth rate is over 30%

In recent years, China through continuous introduction of foreign advanced technology combining with self-development and innovation, makes the powder metallurgy industry and technology in China shows a tendency of rapid development. It is one of the fastest growing China's mechanical generic components, China yearly uotput of powder metallurgy industry growth rate is 35%.

Powder parts molding machine is hydraulic four-post type structure, the application is mainly powder metallurgy structural parts and machinery parts production. At the same time can also be applied to iron, copper, aluminum, stainless steel powder, ceramic powder, electronic ceramics, graphite and the forming of cemented carbide products. Pressing technology and finishing technology reached the international advanced level.

Global manufacturing is accelerating transfer to China, automobile industry, machinery manufacturing, metal industry, aerospace, instruments and meters, hardware tools, construction machinery, electronic appliances, high-tech industry rapid development. Has brought the powder metallurgy industry rare development opportunity and huge market space. In addition, the powder metallurgy industry is listed in the priority to the development and encourage foreign investment projects, the development prospect is broad.

Powder metallurgy high strength aluminum alloy

In order to further improve the performance of the aluminum alloy, nano phase and nano intermetallic compound
dispersion strengthening alloy research has aroused the concern of the national technicians. A new type of alloy
nanoparticles toughening reinforcement, will greatly improve the strength of the material, and reduce the usage amount of material. Nanoparticles toughening reinforcing material for its high strength, high toughness, low temperature superplasticity, easy processing, low density, good performance, in the aircraft, spacecraft and automobile industry has a good application prospect.
Due to the small size effect of nanometer materials and surface and interface effect caused by the increase of surface atomic activity, so the material sintering is easier. It has the advantages of low sintering temperature, short sintering time, sintered body with good sintering performance can be obtained. In general, small uniform microstructure and complete densification is requirements of nanomaterials to achieve the best performance. Traditional molding, isostatic compaction, extrusion, injection molding, explosive forming of powder metallurgy forming method can be used in nano powder molding. Pressureless sintering process is simple and is low cost. Hot pressing (HP), isostatic pressing sintering (RS) and reaction hot-pressing sintering compared with pressureless sintering, the sintering temperature is much lower and higher density can be obtained.
Microwave sintering (MS), self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS), plasma sintering and electric spark
sintering is the latest sintering methods developed in recent years. But because nano powder is extremely fine, its apparent density is very low, so will cause the compact density is uneven, so that the density of sintered body hard meet the theoretical density. Although nano powder has great specific surface area, and high sintering activity. Nanoparticles still grew rapidly at high temperature, and before that have not reached full densification, grain size will grow up to 100 nm. And thus has method to make block nano materials with fully densification and grain size is less than 100 nm. Therefore,  the research emphasis of the preparation of nanometer materials is the control of grain growing up.

The study found that the heat forging technology can effectively overcome the lack of hot pressing. Such as 1100 ℃ can make ZrO2-3% Y2O3 fully densification, the average grain size is 85 nm. In addition, the consecutive extrusion forming and molding in instantaneous high pressure pulse can improve the compact density. Rapid sintering methods such as microwave sintering, its temperature rising (500 ℃ / min) fast, short heating time (2 min), solved the problem of the nanometer grain abnormal grew up. Sintered density, however, it is difficult to achieve theoretical density, so nanomaterials is unlikely to achieve the best mechanical properties.
At present, because of price and technology, the application of powder metallurgy of high strength aluminum alloy is mainly limited in the field of aviation, aerospace. Along with the advance of technology and development, raw material costs will continue to decline, will be applied in the automotive industry massively.

The heat treatment process in MIM production

After 30 years of development, our country Guangdong area is finally formed today's complete market economy oriented pattern of specialized production heat treatment. Of course, now the Guangdong heat treatment industry in addition to produce mold and its accessories, also produce a large number of mechanical parts, hardware accessories, etc. But the mold heat treatment is still the main products of the industry, now still occupies more than 60% market share. At present, Guangdong heat treatment industry group has about 600 factories, most factories has mold processing business.

In mid and late 1980’s, the endeavor to reform and opening up of market economy are springing up in Guangdong area. Household electrical appliances, light industry machinery, metal products, furniture, and aluminum and stainless steel material manufacturing developed rapidly. Especially the Pearl R0iver Delta region, as the pioneer of reform and opening up, the market consciousness, exploring spirit, reform, and economic development and capital accumulation are changing with each passing day.

Due to the drive force of rapid development of the manufacturing industry chain, a considerable scale heat treatment industry group was born at the right moment in Guangdong where is almost blank in before. And experienced social production, mass production and until the specialized production process. While the start of Guangdong heat treatment industry, has connected with the development of die and mould industry. According to introducing, due to the manufacturing industry fast development, the mould demand is very big, thus different sizes of mould processing plants in the Pearl River Delta region dotted with soon.

But heat treatment as a key processing in mold manufacturing chain, in the 80's almost could not be found in the Pearl River Delta region, guangdong has no professional heat treatment factory. Large number of molds had to be sent to Guangzhou large enterprises and institutions of higher learning and scientific research institutes affiliated internal heat treatment factory for heat treatment. But doing so often have the "far water does not put out near fire" feeling, to the entrepreneurs who see "time is money, efficiency is life" at the forefront of reform and opening-up, there is no other better ways. It is in this background, firstly in the Pearl River Delta region began to initiate some private heat treatment factories engaged in the mold heat treatment. In these private heat treatment factories, some attached to the mold factory, some are professional factories providing services to featured products. Nanhai district, Foshan city, such as large-scale aluminum manufacturing industry "raises" a lot of heat treatment factories specialized production of aluminum extrusion die. Demand for MIM mould are also moving in Shenzhen area promoted Shenzhen mold industry and the development of heat treatment industry. 

breaking pads made with powder metallurgy

With increasing car ownership in our country, the production of brake pad is also increasing year by year. Brake pads is the key components of train brake system. The quality of the high-speed rail brake pads is directly related to the train speed can slow down and stop in time, called "the patron saint of life".
With the rapid development of high-speed railway in China, its various performance requirements also corresponding increase, especially puts forward more strict requirements on braking performance. The braking power and speed of the train is cubic relationship, that is to say, the train speed double then braking power requires increased 8 times. High-speed train braking force mainly include electric braking force and friction, the friction braking is train safe parking final guarantee. Friction braking force comes from the friction between the brake disc and brake pads on the braking system. And in the braking system brake pads performance has very big affect on the train braking effect. Brake pad materials at home and abroad mainly experience metal, alloy and powder metallurgy etc.
In the world there is only a few countries such as Germany, France and Japan can produce high-speed train brake pad. Among them Germany Knorr company Monopolies more than 80% of the global high iron brake pads market. High-speed trains in China since its opening,  the brake pads of braking system relies on imports for long-term. Import brake pads has problems aush as high price, long cycle of supply, spare parts supply not in time and poor after-sales service. High-speed rail brake pads is n technology protection period before 2012, has been importing foreign products. In recent years the domestic represented by Tianyishangjia and PuRan private enterprises gradually enter the field of high-speed rail brake pads. Tianyishangjia in September 2013 got seven models 5 types of brake pads CRCC certificate of railways product, PuRan got CRCC certification in 2014. In 2015, BoShen tool has finished the high-speed train brakes 1:1 brake friction wear performance test.

Powder metallurgy become one of the three largest benefit links of wearable devices

Since the beginning of the "smart wave acceleration innovation, Chinese enterprises rise" report to repeated analysis Google will lead the wave of innovation for the next five years. Apple will accelerate innovation, wearable devices will be another hot spot after smartphones, further analysis is as follows:"from small to big, and then from big to small" the cycle of 2009 apples open smartphone wave, As smartphones screensize grow from 3.5 inch to 5-6 inches, now it is limited. Future consumer electronics innovation will enter the era of frombig to small size, all kinds of wearable will be released next year densely. Smart watches, apple iWatch went draw ahead(there will be the product distribution of all kinds of class), Google xWatch behind, a large number of imitators. 

Smart glasses, GoogleGlass user version is more and more close, a large number of imitators to follow up, besides xEye etc. new products also in research and development. Wearable devices via bluetooth 4.0 technology and sensor technology will further solve human entertainment, social, life, education and health care needs. And explore and innovate applications outside of all kinds of consumer electronics.

FPC, mems, and powder metallurgy: three big benefit links of wearable devices. The weekly newspaper and report
analysis for many times, after the outbreak of wearable equipment mems, FPC and powder metallurgy are the three most benefit industries. The combination of these three application will bring more user experience, more data sensing, more deformation application. Make people's entertainment, work, social, education and health care demand combine better. 

Reduced iron powder has become irreplaceable high-grade mate

Reduced iron powder is the foundation of advanced powder metallurgy and soft magnetic induction device materials. The products because of the high machinability, can be made into all kinds of thin, special shape components, with a strong impact resistance, corrosion resistance, wear resistance and high strength characteristics, widely used in automobiles, machinery, ships, locomotives, etc. Is a high grade material cannot be replaced by the iron and steel made on pure melting.
In addition in the transformer core, electric induction device, high quality electrode, xerox, chemical industry, medical and food preservation is applied widely. With the development of science and technology, the application areas of high purity iron powder will be more and more widely, using amount is becoming bigger and bigger.
According to analysis, the initial raw material of reduced iron powder is iron oxide, mainly exists in the erroferric(Fe3O4) oxide. Due to the original hydrogen reduction effect is not very good, so change to tunnel kiln using carbon as reductant to restore the product, the reduction efficiency is relatively high. So using carbon as the reducing agent in once reduction in deoxidization, the method is widely used.
Thus, powder metallurgy with reduced iron powder production process is also a kind of once reduction, so generally choose carbon namely coke as a reducing agent for reduction, at the end get the semi-finished product sponge iron. Form replacement sponge copper iron powder, of course, this is not the final product, but also on the broken again after processing to the secondary reduction, can use hydrogen as a reducing agent for reduction at this moment, to get the product we want.

row material

Metamaterials (Metamaterial) is a kind of new material of the 21st century, it has special properties that natural
materials do not have, which mainly come from the artificial special structure. At present these materials mainly used in the field of electromagnetic and acoustics.
Recently, the British media said, Xi'an, China and the defense technology company has set up a metamaterial national defense research and development center. The company mainly engaged in the continuous wave radar, photoelectric, sonar detection system research, the production of "hunt shadow" short-range air defense information systems and other equipment appearanced at the Zhuhai airshow.
British media reported that China Xi'an and defense technology company is one of the fastest growing private companies in China, the company recently announced it will set up a metamaterial defencs research and development center The company announced on June 24, the new facility will focus on the application of metamaterials to research in the field of military and aerospace, the so-called metamaterials is a kind of artificial composite materials, has the structure not found in nature materials.

Read more

Powder metallurgy parts are popular in car industry

Powder metallurgy is a very important part_forming technology. Powder metallurgy new technology, new 
craft appear constantly, this will promote the rapid development of high technology industry, and will also 
bring bright prospect material engineering and manufacturing technology. 

Because the powder metallurgy process has numerous advantages such as saving raw materials, light 
weight, excellent performance, low cost.  In addition to the engine, transmission and motor bearings, now 
the scope of using powder metallurgy parts in the car is becoming more and more widely. More parts to be 
used in the place such as chassis, body, interior, promising prospects.At present, the use of powder 
metallurgy parts in the car has more than 1000 kinds. The personage inside course of study points out, 
powder metallurgy structural parts in the replacement of the existing gear, CAM, sprocket, various shapes 
of castings, forgings, cutting and developing new structure parts has a unique advantage.

In order to achieve the human and the nature harmonious coexistence, the existing way of life must be 
changed, save energy and reduce CO2 emissions, protect the ecological, to meet the advent of the era of low 
carbon, are increasingly using of new energy vehicles. Developing powder metallurgy new technology 
research, to meet the arrival of the era of low carbon, new energy use has very important significance, 
powder metallurgy parts is developing toward the target of energy conservation and emissions reduction. 

Titanium powder forming technology

New titanium powder forming technology on the basis of powder metallurgy compaction process, combined with the advantages of metal injection molding, by adding suitable amount of micro powder and improve lubricant or binder content, improve the liquidity, filling and forming ability of mixed powder, which can be used to make complex geometry parts , has a very broad prospects for development.

Titanium powder forming technology is a kind of forming technology directly produce parts by the powder, produces almost final shape of parts is high yield and low cost method. This method basically does not require further processing or finishing, is good to control the size, and the stability of the parts is wonderful, the uniformity and mechanical performance can be fully guaranteed. Ti and Ti alloy parts produced by powder metallurgy have no composition segregation, with uniform organization and stable performance. Titanium car parts is a very attractive market, research and development production method of new materials with low cost, and combined advanced powder metallurgy near net shaping technology, is expected to make Ti turn into automobile manufacturing.

At present, the main impediment to Ti and Ti alloy widely application is its high cost, using powder metallurgy technology can effectively reduce the cost. To further reduce the production cost of Ti and Ti alloys, new Ti powder forming technology is constantly emerging.

basic raw material for powder metallurgy industry

Iron powder is a basic raw material for powder metallurgy industry. 85% of iron powder is used in the manufacture of powder metallurgy parts, with 70% ~ 80% of the powder metallurgy parts are used in automobile industry. The rest of the iron powder used in chemical industry, magnetic material, cutting, welding rod, heating material etc.

Development scale and level of iron and steel industry is a sign of a nation and region economy development, it has an important position in economy construction. Demand for steel and iron grows rapidly, the imports rely of ore resources of foreign is getting higher and higher, has reached more than 30%. In fact our country is a steel country but not a great power. steel with good quality and special steel material still need to rely on a large number of imports. So accelerate the development of high quality steel materials of our country is a realistic problem in front of us. Once reduced iron powder is a kind of more advanced metallurgical materials. Its products of powder metallurgy parts are widely used in automotive, mechanical and electrical, home appliances, communications, machinery manufacturing and other components, and many other areas, the economic benefit is very considerable.

 At present, the industry of our country is developing rapidly, as the adjustment and upgrading of industrial structure, the domestic demand of powder metallurgy products in 20%~30% growth rate, which is the force driving the rapid development of iron powder production in China in recent years. However, at present in our country, powder metallurgy parts has pretty large gap compared with the developed countries. Gap is the driving force for the development of the industry, at the same time also indicates the powder metallurgy has wide development prospects.

Powder metallurgy technology can effectively solve the difficulty in processing and forming of TiAl alloy

In recent years, in order to promote the high temperature high performance high titanium niobium alloy engineering technology and industrialization process, our country developed with independent intellectual property rights of a new generation of aerospace engine materials used high temperature high performance high titanium niobium alloy material, will soon enter the stage of industrialization. This technology will make our country aerospace engine materials the world leading level. High titanium niobium alloy is a research direction of innovation in our country, has the world's first high temperature alloy patent, led the world in the field of research and development, is a milestone in the development of titanium aluminum alloy, marked the titanium aluminum intermetallic compound research field in China as the international leading position. 
Our country has put a titanium alloy research included in the national 863 high technology and new material development.

After years of efforts, in the alloy microstructure, deformation characteristics and the effect of adding elements and alloy preparation technology and so on has carried on the fruitful work. There have been many studies of titanium aluminum alloy papers published in journals and conferences both at home and abroad.

learn more read http://www.mdmmetal.com/Companynews/Powder_metallurgy_technology_can_effectively_solve_the_diffi_190.html 

The multi-direction development of MIM’s material system

Injection molding technology is a near net shaping technology that is able to shape as requested ideally, economically, and only needs few or no post processing after sintering. This has become more and more important in the application of industrialized production of fine ceramic. In the fine ceramic industry, mainly use carbide, metal ceramic, inorganic non_metallic ceramics, oxide ceramic, intermetallic compounds, etc.

Take zirconia ceramic fiber pin for example, the post processing time could be greatly shorten if the green ware(blank) made by MIM technology. Due to the blank formed int he cavity has holes with a certainaccuracy, the subsequent grinding process is reduced to 1/3 to 1/4 of extrusion forming, so as to increase the production efficiency and reduce production cost. 

Wearproof tool material in developing are Co base alloy, W base alloy, hard alloy, Al2O3_30 tic composite cutting tool ceramics, MULLITE (MULLITE), SiC, Si3N4, etc. Metal injection molding is also applied to other materials, such as SiC/Al composite materials, tool steel, titanium alloy, non_magnetic cemented carbide, W/Cu alloy, rare earth permanent magnet materials, KOVAR alloy, etc.

Magnetic materials such as soft magnetic ferrite , bonded permanent magnetic (such as NdFeB, SmCo, etc) is another vast field of applying technology.

MIM Industry Development

 At present, there are over 500 enterprises with considerable scale on the planet, that produce near net shape parts with metal injection molding technology, many of them are the subsidiaries of the international well known large companies. Such as the German BASF company, which main business is to produce the feedstock that can use in injection machine directly. American GM company set up an injection molding factory to produce precision parts for there cars. Japan's sumitomo metal, Shin Etsu Chemical have been establishing in the production of bonded magnets of injection molding. While some of the fine ceramic enterprises with strong foundation have also reaped the benefits of injection molding, so more ceramic manufacturers will adopt injection molding technology to produce complex shape precision ceramic parts.               

         Predictably, as the further research, development and application of metal injection molding. MIM technology will become a near net shaping technology in the near future, that can be parallel to machining, precision casting and pressing/sintering. MIM will be known and accepted by more and more designer, and meets the request of high performance for key special shaped precision parts in the industries  such  as  communication,  machinery,  automobile,  weapons,  medical,  aerospace, etc. 

Our customer service representatives are here to serve you 24 hours a day on weekdays, as well as select hours on Saturday (except on major holidays). We believe in the timeliness of customer service, and will do everything possible to satisfy our customers. If you have any problems, comments, or suggestions, please contact our customer service representatives.

Metal injection moulding technology has brought a big revolution to mobile phone industry

The application of powder injection molding is more and more widely, mobile phone, it came into use of powder 
injection molding technology. Due to market need lighter, thinner and more aesthetic phone, need to use the best 
technology, to reduce the size of the mobile phone. Some mobile enterprise is seeking to make mobile phone assembly parts with metal injection molding.
The MIM application trend in the mobile phone industry
The president of a mobile phone brand said at a luncheon: "our first metal mobile phone is made of aluminum, we found that in order to meet the all the requirements, metal injection molding method is the best, in many cases it is the only choice". But the company did not use the metal injection molding parts as first material, because the mobile phone market life is pretty short and styles change quickly. While metal injection molding method has long production cycle and high production cost. 
Mobile phone parts made with MIM tech. 
Now there are several parts in mobile phone is made by MIM method. For example: the oscillator made with tungsten, use to balance weight, the hinge made with high strength steel, in the mobile phone the most important application of MIM is producing ramp, barrel and hinge. The company President said: "the advantages of MIM and its improvement will increase its application in the mobile phone manufacturing, mobile phone manufacturing industry lack of understanding of metal injection molding method has affected the application”.
Now, metal injection molding method is used to make some mobile phones with complicated structure and function, such as clamshell mobile phones. The company's president said: "from the manufacturing time and cost considerations, manufacturing common mobile phones should not use metal injection molding parts".

Investment casting technology

Investment casting also called lost_wax casting. This kind of casting process can produce sophisticated parts that close to the final product shape,metal parts or fine arts and crafts while don't need or rarely need machining.It is a kind of near net shape Metal liquid forming technology, and is widely applied.
Investment casting is batch replication technology uses the final product as transcription. 
The basic processes as following: 
1) Make metal mold.
2) Press the wax models on a wax mould machine with the metal mold. 3) Make wax trees by forming the wax models on the gating system.4) Painting several layers of refractory in wax tree.5) Get the steel shell after drying and hardening. 6) Melting the wax in the shell and let it flow out.7) Roasting the shell and strengthen it.8) Pour the molten liquid metal into the shell.9) Get the casting part after the liquid metal cooling down and hardened.10) Cut the casting parts from the trees. 11) Post_processing, surface treatment etc.
Investment casting features: 
♦ Cost: molding fee low to middle, cost for unit part middle to high , labor cost is very high. 
♦ Typical products:wide range of application, such as building structure, consumer electronics, aerospace, jewelry, city sculpture, etc.
♦ Production scale: suitable for middle to larger volume production.
♦ Quality: high precision molding surface, especially suitable for metal parts with complex shape.
♦ Cycle; very long(24 hours for forming).

Application Materials
Not only suitable for all ferrous and non_ferrous alloys, but also good for superalloy that the traditional casting can not make. The most commonly used material is low alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, zinc, copper, nickel alloy and precious metals.
Design considerations
Part wall thickness is decided by the alloy materials used
1,Wall thickness of aluminum alloy and zinc alloy parts should be controlled between 1.5 mm - 3 mm (0.079” to 0.118”)
2. The steel and copper alloy parts wall thickness should be greater than 3 mm (0.118”)3. Lost wax casting made up for the vacancy of traditional casting, allow parts appear inscribe and 
variational wall thickness and other complex situation. 

Copper and copper base powder in the application of powder metallurgy

In recent years, powder metallurgy  scholars pay more attention to the material with nano and composite propertie,while ignored the base material and the process of an expanding role in the field of powder metallurgy. Copper hasplayed an important role in the field of powder metallurgy, and will continue to promote its development.
The application of copper in powder metallurgy

Copper has good thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, and good corrosion resistance and mechanical 
properties. Copper is easy to be processed into complex shapes and filaments. Architects often use its bright red and verdigris after the eroded as buildings, ceiling decoration and outdoor.

In the field of powder metallurgy, pure copper powder is used to produce electronic and thermal conductive parts. Copper alloy containing tin, zinc, nickel, iron or is widely used in automobile, lawn park equipment, tools, and electronic industry. Copper powder  is mostly used in self-lubricating bearing.

Important and characteristic application  of copper powder is in the powder metallurgy field. In the field the material is not obtained by melting and casting.For example, dispersion strengthening Cu_Al2O3 used for strengthening and manufacturing welding electrodes (used in automobile and other industries), used in electronic field the W_Cu and Mo_Cu, such material needs to control its porosity.Self_lubricating bearings and filters are the typical applications of powder metallurgy.The materials required to control the appropriate porosity to make oil content reach excellent lubricating effect.

By metal injection molding process copper powder can be produced into complex shapes of electrical and 
electronic components, the product has good electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.We can use high pur

copper powder, by improving the final density of parts to improve the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.

In the United States, use water atomization and gas atomization and oxidation reduction method to produce copper powder, its shape is spherical or irregular.Atomized powder physical properties (such as apparent density, liquidity,particle size and green strength) associated with process conditions,Such as: certain additives, melting temperature, spray pressure, reduction temperature and the post_processing of powder. After oxidation reduction powder's median diameter is 10 microns, apparent density is less than 1.5 g/cm3, green density is greater than 20 mpa. After atomization, powder particle size and reduction temperature is the key factor that determine powder products.

Atomization and REDOX powder is essentially the same in the application with the electrolytic copper powder, 

application exceptions is the need of dendritic powder and very low apparent density.

CuPb and CuPbSn bearing used in automobile, turbine, thrust washer and industrial pump devices, Ppwder cover 

on the steel substrate, by sintering and rolling reaches a certain density, final product porosity is less than 0.25%.

produce brass powder and nickel silver alloy powder with atomization , zinc content in brass powder in 10% ~ 30%, and sometimes lead was added to improve the mechanical properties. It is applied in lock parts, instrument pointer and driving equipment. Because of the brass beautiful color, it is used for decorative metal medals.A lot of powder metallurgy parts indicates that the use of copper base  in powder metallurgical is very potential and creative.