Metal powders are used in many manufacturing techniques in order to produce metal parts. Use of metal powders eliminates waste in comparison with traditional machining and is versatile in creating a variety of metal and alloy components. Metal powder technologies are at the forefront of the progressive era of a smarter and greener fabrication.

What are metal powders?

Metal powders are finely divided base materials for metal-part production. The particle size of most metal powders varies from 5-200 μm. Some common fabrication techniques that utilise metal powders are powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing, surface coating, soft magnetic applications, and metal injection moulding. Most types of metals and their alloys come in metal powders such as iron, aluminium, bronze, chromium, cobalt, metal carbides, silicon, and more.

Powdered Metals and Their Common Uses

Powdered metals are extremely versatile and result in less waste when they are used to manufacture certain parts and as coatings for other metals. Our most popular powdered metals include red and black cupric oxide, nickel, aluminum, tin and copper.

Aluminum Powder – Aluminum powder is incredibly versatile. Its flammable properties make it ideal for fireworks and pyrotechnics. It is used for the creation of metallic paints, and it is used in the manufacturing of solar cells in the green energy sector.

Bismuth Powder – Bismuth powder is often used in the creation of alloys, including steel, aluminum and copper alloys, and it can be used as a replacement for lead when manufacturing radiation shielding products. It is also used for the production of batteries and in the creation of welding rods.

Cadmium Oxide Powder – Cadmium oxide powder is often used to create silver alloys and for glazes used on ceramics and for plating steel. It’s also a popular choice when it comes to manufacturing transparent conductors, semiconductors and nickel-cadmium batteries.

Granular Copper – Granular copper is most commonly used to make self-lubricating bearings, but it is also used in injection molding, in manufacturing friction components and lubricants and for certain types of coatings.

Iron Powder – Iron powder is used in numerous industries from machining filtration. Common uses of iron powder include the making of magnetics and magnetic products, printing, fortifying iron and creating friction products, like brake pads. It can also be used in the welding industry and for surface coating. It can even be used to create certain types of dyes and stains.

Manganese Powder – Manganese powder is most often used in the steel and iron industries to create alloys for the manufacturing of tools and machinery. The steel and iron alloys are often used to create car parts and materials for the construction industry.

Nickel Based Alloy Powder – Nickel powder is combined with other metals, including steel and iron, in applications where corrosion resistance is a must, like in the marine industry.

Red and Black Cupric Oxide – These powdered metals are formed by combining copper oxides with copper. They are most commonly used for wood treatment and as pigments in glazes and ceramics.

Tin Powder – M and SW grade tin powders are primarily used in spray-on applications for corrosion resistance. It is also used in the manufacturing of high-powered magnets and self-lubricating bearings.

Zinc Powder – Zinc powder is incredibly versatile. It can be used to manufacture galvanized steel and to create brass. It is also used in certain types of paints and for precision die casting as well as for plating other types of metals.

And there are many other types of metal powders like Stainless Steel Powder, Die Steel Powder, Cobalt Based Alloy Powder, Refractory Metal Powder, Soft Magnetic Powder, Silver Powder. They are always used as Additive Manufacturing Powder including MIM Powder, Coating Powder, etc.

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