Abstract: Improved drying, binder evaporation, and sintering processes which may be used in conjunction with specialized sintering tools to provide for the geometrically stable sintering of large, complex, metal injection molded preform parts or flowbodies. The improved process includes a three-stage drying process, a single stage binder evaporation process, and a two-stage sintering process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a magnetic particle including forming a layer containing an alloy particle that can form CuAu type or Cu3Au type hard magnetic order alloy phase on a support, oxidizing the layer, and annealing the layer in non-oxidizing atmosphere. The invention also relates to a method of producing a magnetic particle including producing an alloy particle that can form hard magnetic order alloy phase, oxidizing the alloy particle, and annealing the particle in non-oxidizing atmosphere, and a magnetic particle produced by the foregoing production method. Further, the invention relates to a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer containing a magnetic particle and a method of producing a magnetic recording medium including forming a layer containing an alloy that can form the foregoing hard magnetic order alloy phase, oxidizing the layer, and annealing the layer in non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a magnetic particle including forming a layer containing an alloy particle that can form CuAu type or Cu3Au type hard magnetic order alloy phase on a support, oxidizing the layer, and annealing the layer in non-oxidizing atmosphere. The invention also relates to a method of producing a magnetic particle including producing an alloy particle that can form hard magnetic order alloy phase, oxidizing the alloy particle, and annealing the particle in non-oxidizing atmosphere, and a magnetic particle produced by the foregoing production method. Further, the invention relates to a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer containing a magnetic particle and a method of producing a magnetic recording medium including forming a layer containing an alloy that can form the foregoing hard magnetic order alloy phase, oxidizing the layer, and annealing the layer in non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sintering aluminium-based sintered parts which are, initially, guided with the aid of a transport system T through a de-binding area (3) before being guided through followed by a sintering area (2) and finally being guided through a cooling area (4). Inert gas atmosphere prevails in the sintering area (2), provided with an oxygen content, corresponding to a thawing point of, maximum, 40° C. The sintered parts (23) are heated to the required sintering temperature of 560-620° C., by means of convection, whereby the inert gas atmosphere is accordingly heated, flowing around said sintered parts in a corresponding manner.

Abstract: Novel powders or particles are formed by associating them with relatively small proportions of hydrolysable liquid material. The resulting particle/liquid mass is placed in a mold and sintered under conditions of heat and pressure that enables at least some of the hydrolysable liquid to react within the sintered mass. The sintered mass displays a controllable range of properties such as increased density, increased tensile strength, and improved natural polish finish. The hydrolysable liquid may partially hydrolyze and/or react with the powders and particles, but the liquid is not completely (not 100%) reduced to an inorganic oxide prior to introduction to the mold and performance of the sintering process.

Abstract: An iron-based sintered alloy, which consists of from 0.5 to 5% of Ni, from 0.5 to 4% of Cr, from 0.5 to 2% of C, the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and which has a micro-structure comprising an iron-based matrix containing Ni and a part of Cr as solutes and carbides containing the other part of Cr and dispersed in the matrix. The iron-based sintered alloy is appropriate for use as a valve seat of an internal combustion engine. Wear resistance is maintained at a moderate level while the additive amount of alloying elements is decreased to attain low cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved metallurgical powder compositions that incorporate solid lubricants, methods for preparing and using the same, and methods of making compacted parts. Ejection properties, such as stripping pressure and sliding pressure, of compacted parts can be improved by using the solid lubricants. The solid lubricants contain functionalized polyalkylene lubricants have the formula: R1—Q—R2 where Q is a linear or branched, polyalkylene containing from about 10 to about 200 carbon atoms, and R1 and R2 are each independently a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group or a metal salt thereof, an amine group, a mono- or di-C1 to C25 alkyl substituted amine group, or an alkylene oxide group having the formula: —[(CH2)qO]nH where q is from about 1 to about 7, n is from about 1 to about 100.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an iron based sintered body suitable for being enveloped in light metal alloy such as an aluminum alloy by casting, and a method for producing the same. A mixed powder is prepared by mixing an iron based powder, a copper powder and a graphite powder blended so that the Cu content and the C content are 5 to 40% by mass and 0.5 to 2.5% by mass, respectively, in the mixed powder. A lubricant powder and a fine particle powder for improving machinability may be further added in the mixed powder. Then, the mixed powder is filled into a mold formed to a green compact, and is sintered into a sintered body so that the sintered body has a desired average thermal expansion coefficient. The surface of the sintered body may be adjusted to have a surface roughness Rz of 10 to 100 &mgr;m optionally by applying a shot blast treatment or by a shot blast treatment and an additional steam treatment.

Abstract: A process of making an article of a tungsten-carbide-cobalt alloy with or without an additive of one or more of tantalum, cobalt-nickel, nickel-tantalum, tantalum-carbide, titanium-carbide, niobium-carbide, chromium-carbide, titanium-nitride and diamond dust. The method includes forming a homogeneous mixture of polygonal-shaped powder tungsten-carbide-cobalt and a polygonal-shaped powder additive and a binder including wax and a high molecular weight polyolefin polymer and injecting the mixture under heat and pressure into a metal injection mold to form a green preform of the article. The green preform is immersed in a linear hydrocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon or mixtures to dissolve and remove the wax and convert the green preform into a brown preform which is sintered to remove the remainder of the binder and to densify the brown preform into an article having a density not less than 98%. Various tungsten-carbide articles are disclosed.

Abstract: Ultrasmall, complex-shaped high-precision micromolds are produced by controlled shrinkage upon sintering of green parts molded from mixtures of micrometer- or nanometer-sized particulates dispersed in an organic binder.

Abstract: This invention describes a novel production method of manufacturing metal/ceramic articles with complex internal undercut features using powder injection molding processes The shape of the undercut/hollow feature is initially molded using a disposable material such as a degradable polymer. The PIM feedstock is then molded onto this to form the required shape geometry, in effect encapsulating the polymeric feature in the PIM feedstock. The resulting two-material part is then sent for processing which removes the polymer through solvent or thermal process. After the polymer and the binder have been removed, the part now comprises a powder skeleton that contains the internal undercut feature within itself. After sintering the result is a metal/ceramic part having an internal undercut feature. The technical advantage of the present invention is that it does not require complex toolings or costly secondary operations while retaining the flexibility to design any internal undercut features of complex geometry.

Abstract: A process for adjusting the level of water or water soluble additives in aqueous-based powder injection molding compounds for the purpose of recycling scrap material, controlling shrinkage or rehydrating dry feedstock. Depending on the objective, the process may require material granulation equipment, equipment for the addition or removal of water and mixing equipment. The molding compounds may be comprised of either recycled scrap material before being heat-treated or dry, virgin feedstock material.

Abstract: Permanent magnet for voice coil actuator motors used to actuate head-arm assemblies in small form disk drives are produced from a dispersion of prealloyed rare earth magnetic particles in a thermoplastic binder. Upon shaping of green parts the magnetic axis of the particles is aligned with the field lines of a magnetic field. Following extraction of the binder the green parts are sintered to net shape. Improved magnetic properties, smaller dimensions, better than tolerances and 100% material utilization are claimed.

Abstract: A powder compaction method in which a powder p is filled by air tapping or other suitable method into a mold 1, then while the mold 1 being filled with the powder, the powder particles are bound with each other without application of force from outside the mold to form a compact C, and then the compact C is taken out from the mold 1. This method produces a variety of shapes of the compact far greater than in conventional methods, and net shape manufacturing of products with complex shapes is made possible by this method. Because this method uses far less binder compared to MIM and PIM that are expected as methods for producing products with complicated shapes, the time needed for elimination of the binder is much shorter than in MIM and PIM.

Abstract: A metal injection-molding feedstock is heated and plasticized. Supercritical carbon dioxide is injected into the feedstock to form micropores when the pressure is reduced and a parts mold is filled. The micropores are retained when the green parts are debindered and sintered.

Abstract: A powder composition for warm compaction comprising an iron-based powder and a lubricant powder consisting essentially of an amide described by the following formula D—Cm—B—A—B—Cm—D wherein D is —H, COR, CNHR, wherein R is a straight or branched aliphatic or aromatic group including 2-21 C atoms; C is the group —NH (CH)n CO—; B is amino or carbonyl; A is alkylene having 4-16 C atoms optionally including up to 4 O atoms m is an integer 1-10 and n is an integer 5-11.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an expanding-blade broadhead having a ferrule, a plurality of cutting blades pivotally coupled to the ferrule and a retaining collar releasably securing the cutting blades to the ferrule. The ferrule is formed with an integral boss which pivotally supports the cutting blade and with a threaded shank for attaching the broadhead to an arrow shaft in a conventional manner. Through the use of powdered metallurgy, the ferrule and retaining collar may be formed as monolithic components.

Abstract: A composite powder metal disk for a rotor assembly in a circumferential type interior permanent magnet machine. The disk includes an inner ring of magnetically conducting powder metal compacted and sintered to a high density. The disk further includes an outer ring of permanent magnets separated by magnetically non-conducting powder metal compacted and sintered to a high density. The permanent magnets additionally are radially embedded by magnetically conducting powder metal compacted and sintered to a high density with optional intermediate non-conducting powder metal bridges extending radially from the permanent magnets to the outer surface of the disk. A rotor assembly is also provided having a plurality of the composite powder metal disks mounted axially along a shaft with their magnetic configurations aligned. A method for making the composite powder metal disks is further provided including filling a die with the powder metals, compacting the powders, and sintering the compacted powders.

Abstract: A hard metal grade powder is produced from hard material, metal binder, and non-water-soluble pressing aid components, by forming a slurry containing the components and pure water as a liquid phase and then drying the slurry. Here, the hard material and metal binder components are first milled in water, to form a slurry. Then the pressing aid components are added to the slurry in the form of an emulsion produced with the aid of an emulsifier with the addition of water.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a soft magnetic material which meets demands for low iron loss, high density, high strength and high productivity. The method comprises a surface oxidation step of forming oxide films on the surfaces of a soft magnetic powder, a step of preparing a molding compound of the soft magnetic powder by mixing a soft magnetic powder and a binder with a predetermined blending ratio, a press molding step of press-molding the molding compound of the soft magnetic powder into a predetermined shape, and a sintering step of sintering the press-molded soft magnetic powder to produce a soft magnetic material, wherein a millimeter wave sintering apparatus or a discharge plasma sintering apparatus is used as a heating means in the surface oxidation step or in the sintering step.

Abstract: The invention shows how powder injection molding may be used to form a continuous body having multiple parts, each of which has different functional properties such as corrosion resistance or hardness, there being no connective materials such as solder or glue between the parts. This is accomplished through careful control of the relative shrinkage rates of these various parts. Although there is no limit to how many parts with different functional properties can make up an object, special attention is paid to certain pairs of functional properties that are difficult and/or expensive to combine in a single object when other manufacturing means are used.

Abstract: A sintered, magnetically soft composite is proposed, especially for use in solenoid valves, and a process for producing such a composite, in which initially a starting mixture from which the magnetically soft composite is formed after sintering is produced, having a ferromagnetic, especially powdery first starting component (11) as main constituent, and a ferritic second starting component (12) as secondary constituent, as well as possibly a pressing aid. After the starting mixture is sintered, the second starting component (12) is present in the produced composite at least largely as grain boundary phase. The proposed manufacturing process includes the process steps: provision of the starting mixture; mixing of the starting mixture; compression of the starting mixture in a cavity mold under increased pressure; removal of the binder from the compressed starting mixture; and sintering of the compressed starting mixture to form the composite.

Abstract: The invention shows how powder injection molding may be used to form a continuous body having multiple parts, each of which has different functional properties such as corrosion resistance or hardness, there being no connective materials such as solder or glue between the parts. This is accomplished through careful control of the relative shrinkage rates of these various parts. Although there is no limit to how many parts with different functional properties can make up an object, special attention is paid to certain pairs of functional properties that are difficult and/or expensive to combine in a single object when other manufacturing means are used.

Abstract: A rotary chip-removing tool includes a rotary tool body and a tool tip fastened on a front end thereof. The tool tip is formed of an injection molded body which has an integral cutting edge at its front end, and a coupling structure at its rear end. The coupling structure can be in the form of a threaded hole, or a rearward projection, for coupling the tool tip against the tool body. The tool tip is formed of first and second materials. The first material forms at least part of the cutting edge, and the second material forms the coupling structure. The first material is more brittle than the second material, and the second material is tougher than the first material.

Abstract: Methods of forming niobium powders and other metal powders are described. The method involves milling the metal powders at elevated temperatures and in the presence of at least one liquid solvent. The methods of the present invention have the ability to reduce DC leakage and/or increase capacitance capabilities of metal powders when formed into capacitor anodes. The present invention further has the ability to significantly reduce the milling time necessary to form high surface area metal powders and leads to reducing the amount of contaminants in the metal powders. Metal powders such as niobium powders having reduced amount of contaminants and/or having DC leakage or capacitance capabilities are also described. A process is further described for forming a flaked metal by wet-milling a metal powder into a flaked metal wherein at least one liquid fluorinated fluid is present during the wet-milling process.

Abstract: A method of producing a substantially regular cylindrical body that consists of a deformable material, especially a sintered metal blank. The blank is provided with an interior helical recess. The blank is first produced with a substantially linear course of the interior recess, for example by extrusion. The body is cut to a defined length and is subjected to a rolling movement by a friction surface while being supported across its entire length on a support. The speed of the rolling movement changes in a linear and continuous manner across the length of the body, thereby regularly twisting the body.

Abstract: A sintered iron-based powder metal body with lower re-compacting load and having a high density and a method of manufacturing an iron-based sintered component with fewer pores of a sharp shape and having high strength and high density.

Abstract: Molding compositions and forming processes for normally rust-prone iron-based powders, and articles produced therefrom. Metal alloy systems that can be successfully formed using the processes of the invention, include elemental iron and iron alloys including low and medium alloy steels, tool steels and a number of specialty iron-base alloys.

Abstract: A method for selectively and rapidly extracting/removing a plasticizer from a compact such as a green laminate that is produced at a certain point in the process of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor. Carbon dioxide is introduced into a pressure chamber in which the green laminate has been placed, and the temperature and the pressure of the pressure chamber are set to 40° C. and 10 MPa, respectively, so that the pressure chamber is filled with a supercritical carbon dioxide. The plasticizer is extracted/removed from the green laminate by using the supercritical carbon dioxide. Then, a de-binder step and a baking step are performed in an ordinary manner. By performing the de-plasticizer process of selectively extracting/removing the plasticizer before the de-binder step, it is possible to suppress the formation of a graphite-like substance even if the temperature is increased rapidly in the subsequent de-binder step and the baking step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved metallurgical powder compositions that incorporate solid lubricants, methods for preparing and using the same, and methods of making compacted parts. Ejection properties, such as stripping pressure and sliding pressure, of compacted parts can be improved by using the solid lubricants. The solid lubricants contain polyalkylene-polyalkylene oxide block copolymer lubricants or a combination of polyalkylene-polyalkylene oxide block copolymer lubricants and at least one additional lubricant. The polyalkylene-polyalkylene oxide block copolymer lubricants include at least one block A of a linear or branched polyalkylene chain having from about 5 to about 500 carbon atoms, and at least one block B of an alkylene oxide chain having a formula —[O(CH2)r]m—, or —[(CH2)rO]m—. The polyalkylene block copolymer lubricants can have a formula represented as A-B or A-B-A.

Abstract: Low-nickel austenitic steel which contains iron and the following components: Manganese: less than 17.0% by weight; Chromium: more than 21.0 and not more than 26.0% by weight; Molybdenum: less than 1.50% by weight; Nitrogen: more than 0.70 and not more than 1.70% by weight; and Carbon: more than 0.11 and not more than 0.70% by weight and its production and use.

Abstract: Molding compositions and forming processes for normally rust-prone iron-based powders, and articles produced therefrom. Metal alloy systems that can be successfully formed using the processes of the invention, include elemental iron and iron alloys including low and medium alloy steels, tool steels and a number of specialty iron-base alloys.

Abstract: A process for compacting a green compact includes the steps of applying a higher fatty acid-based lubricant to an inner surface of a die, filling a raw material powder whose major component is an active metallic element into the die, compacting the raw material powder by warm pressurizing to make a green compact, and ejecting the green compact from the die, whereby the resulting green compact has a high density. It is possible to form active metallic powders including an active metallic element such as Ti and Al by pressurizing by high pressures, and to produce high-density green compacts which have not been available conventionally.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates to a method of making a PcBN cutting tool insert. The method includes the following steps: mixing raw material powders, (e.g., cBN, hBN, TiC, TiN, Ti(C,N), WC, W, C, Co, Co2Al9, Al AlN, Al2O3) with a liquid (e.g., ethanol) and an agent (e.g., polyethylene glycol, PEG) to form a homogeneous slurry with the desired composition; forming spherical powder agglomerates, typically 100 &mgr;m in diameter, preferably by spray drying; pressing said agglomerates to form a body of desired dimensions and density using conventional tool pressing technology; removing the agent from the powder at a suitable temperature and atmosphere; raising the temperature to 1000-1350° C. in vacuum; solid state sintering the body at 1000-1350° C. in vacuum, for 1-90 minutes to form a body with 35-55 vol % porosity; optionally, adding 0.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing an object, such as, for example, a form tool used for forming threaded fasteners. The method utilizes metal injection molding technology and processes to form densified parts having at least the near net shape of the desired object.

Abstract: A process for preparation of molded articles, such as golf club heads, by metal injection molding and the resulting product.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sintering a compact of particulate material for a ceramic or of particles of a metal, or a ceramic precursor film, wherein the sintering is performed by heating and burning the compact or the ceramic precursor film while applying centrifugal force to the compact or the ceramic precursor film.

Abstract: The invention shows how powder injection molding may be used to form a continuous body having multiple parts, each of which has different functional properties such as corrosion resistance or hardness, there being no connective materials such as solder or glue between the parts. This is accomplished through careful control of the relative shrinkage rates of these various parts. Although there is no limit to how many parts with different functional properties can make up an object, special attention is paid to certain pairs of functional properties that are difficult and/or expensive to combine in a single object when other manufacturing means are used.

Abstract: A soldering paste for hard-soldering and coating working parts made of aluminum or aluminum alloys, which contains 25 to 35 percent in weight of a water-miscible organic binding agent on the basis of aliphatic glycols, 25 to 45 percent in weight of an aluminum hard-soldering powder, 25 to 45 percent in weight of an aluminum fluxing agent and, as an additive to influence the rheological properties, 0.01 to 0.2 percent by weight with respect to the total amount of one or several fatty acids with 10 to 20 C atoms and/or their ammonium salts.

Abstract: A coated cemented carbide tool, and a method for making the same, wherein the as-sintered substrate is formed by sintering in an atmosphere having at least a partial pressure and for a part of the time a nitrogen partial pressure.

Abstract: A sintered rare earth magnet is produced by finely pulverizing a coarse rare earth magnet alloy powder to an average particle size of 1-10 &mgr;m in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; introducing the resultant fine rare earth magnet alloy powder into a non-oxidizing liquid comprising at least one oil selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, synthetic oils and vegetable oils, and at least one lubricant selected from the group consisting of esters of aliphatic acids and monovalent alcohols, esters of polybasic acids and monovalent alcohols, esters of aliphatic acids and polyvalent alcohols and their derivatives to prepare a slurry; molding the slurry; degreasing the resultant green body; sintering the degreased green body; and then heat-treating the green body.

Abstract: A paste composition, including a binding agent charged with metallic powder, to be used in a solid freeform fabrication procedure, comprising: a) a solidifiable binding agent comprised of at least one polymerizable resin, with a viscosity of less than 4000 mPa.s, measured at 25° C.; b) at least one initiator, in a concentration greater than about 0.1% by mass with respect to the mass of the resin; and c) a mixture of at least two metallic powders, said mixture having a volumetric concentration greater than 40% with respect to the composition, wherein said mixture of metal powders is either i) a bimodal or trimodal mixture in nature, or ii) is a majority of stainless steel with an amount of NiB or NiP and combinations thereof effective to lower the sintering temperature.

Abstract: High-density composite materials comprising tungsten and bronze are useful as lead replacements in the production of ammunition, weights and other high density articles. The composition of the composite, articles manufactured using the composite, and a process for making the composite are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lubricant for metallurgical powder compositions. According to the invention, the lubricant contains a polyolefine-based polymer, which has a weight-average molecular weight Mw of 500-10000. The invention further concerns a metal-powder composition containing the lubricant, method for making sintered products by using the lubricant, and use of the same in cold and warm compaction.

Abstract: A powder bed (32) is built up by repeated deposition of a slurry that contains powder. Layers are made by depositing a liquid dispersion of the desired powdered material, which then slip-casts into the forming powder bed to make a new layer (34). The slurry may be deposited in any suitable manner, such as by raster or vector scanning, or by a plurality of simultaneous jets that coalesce before the liquid slip-casts into the bed, or by individual drops, the deposits of which are individually controlled, thereby generating a regular surface for each layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to economic and environment-friendly slurries and their preparation, handling, and spray drying for the production of cemented carbide based hard metals. The slurry is ethanol-water based and contains metallic and metal carbide raw materials as well as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a very low concentration of polyethylenimine (PEI). The concentration of PEI is 0.01-<0.1% of the raw material weight. As a result, low-viscous slurries are produced which require less use of ethanol, energy, manpower and equipment time in their preparation, handling, and spray drying.

Abstract: A process for forming a shaped metallic article, including the steps of combining the starting materials, forming the starting materials into a shape to produce a nonmetallic metal precuror article of a certain geometry, and converting the nonmetallic article to a metallic article by reduction or decomposition, while substantially retaining the geometry of the nonmetallic article. The forming step in which the starting materials are fabricated into a shape can include extrusion, dry pressing, or slurry casting. Further, another embodiment is a metallic article produced by converting a nonmetallic article with a certain geometry, including a plurality of open-ended channels, substantially to the same geometry as the nonmetallic article from which it was converted.

Abstract: A process for the removal of binder material from powder injected molded parts that employs a low pressure plasma reactor to generate reactive species which react with the binder material in the injected molded part is presented. The reactive species cause the binder material to break down into smaller molecules and thereby be removed from the injected molded part.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer support chuck apparatus having a first sintered layer and a second sintered layer. The method comprising the steps of providing the first sintered layer having a plurality of gas distribution ports and providing the second sintered layer having a plurality of grooves. The first sintered layer is stacked on top of the second sintered layer, where a diffusion bonding layer is disposed between the first sintered layer and the second sintered layer. Thereafter, the stacked first and second sintered layers are resintered such that the diffusion bonding layer joins the first and second sintered layers together to form a semiconductor wafer support apparatus.

Abstract: The invention concerns a metal powder composition for warm compaction comprising an iron-based powder and lubricant powder consisting of a polycarboxylic acid amide wax having a melting point peak in the range of 180° to 210° C.