Warm compaction is a cost saving and effective method for obtaining high performance powder metallurgy (PM) parts. This chapter presents the principles of warm compaction and technical aspects of the process. The green and sintered properties of warm compacted parts are discussed and compared with conventionally (cold) produced compacts. The applications of the process for ferrous and non-ferrous PM parts are presented and future trends are outlined.

Powder metallurgy (PM) is a popular metal forming technology used to produce dense and precision components. Different powder and component forming routes can be used to create an end product with specific properties for a particular application or industry. Advances in powder metallurgy explores a range of materials and techniques used for powder metallurgy and the use of this technology across a variety of application areas.Part one discusses the forming and shaping of metal powders and includes chapters on atomisation techniques, electrolysis and plasma synthesis of metallic nanopowders. Part two goes on to highlight specific materials and their properties including advanced powdered steel alloys, porous metals and titanium alloys. Part three reviews the manufacture and densification of PM components and explores joining techniques, process optimisation in powder component manufacturing and non-destructive evaluation of PM parts. Finally, part four focusses on the applications of PM in the automotive industry and the use of PM in the production of cutting tools and biomaterials.Advances in powder metallurgy is a standard reference for structural engineers and component manufacturers in the metal forming industry, professionals working in industries that use PM components and academics with a research interest in the field. - Discusses the forming and shaping of metal powders and includes chapters on atomisation techniques - Highlights specific materials and their properties including advanced powdered steel alloys, porous metals and titanium alloys - Reviews the manufacture and densification of PM components and explores joining techniques

Since the early 1990s considerable effort has been devoted to the development of metal-based composite powders (MeCP). Reinforcements in MeCP can vary from intermetallic to ceramic or polymer, depending on composition and can also be microstructured or nanostructured, depending on the size of the constituent materials. Composite powders can be used at the macro- and microscale to produce dense composite objects, composite coatings, to provide a combination of properties in one component or to provide specific properties to withstand extreme conditions in service. In addition to this, technology for the synthesis of nanodevices has also evolved. Metal composite powders are produced by a variety of methods based on solid-, liquid- and gas-phase synthesis and mechanosynthesis. Functionality and design are the current drivers for the development of metal composite powders.

Powder metallurgy (PM) manufacture of parts is one of the most energy and material efficient forms of net-shape production, particularly, for automotive industry. PM allows repeatable mass production which makes it unique. However, it is well known that the quality of sintered parts can be variable. There can be typically around a 5% scrap rate in existing PM manufacturing lines. Current efforts are being made to develop non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques that will allow inspection of PM parts, notably sintered ones ideally in line with production to increase the quality of output batch and reduce scrap, as much as possible. This chapter presents an overview of non-destructive evaluation methods for PM components. It also seeks to capture latest NDT strategies such as digital radiography (DR) and identify apparent technology gaps in NDT of PM parts, in terms of applicability issues, with an emphasis on offering solutions to detection problems. It also seeks to highlight future work.

Powder metallurgy (PM) of biomaterials is still a niche market, but considerable progress in related manufacturing technologies opens up the possibility of participating in the emerging market for medical devices and surgical implants within the next decade. PM technologies like metal injection moulding (MIM) are promising manufacturing routes if large quantities of complex-shaped parts are required. In addition, porous implants or coatings that improve implant fixation by bone ingrowth are preferentially made by PM technologies. In this chapter, the most promising PM routes for biomedical applications are introduced. Challenges and specific properties of implant materials are discussed, which were made starting from titanium, magnesium or Nitinol powders. The potential of PM is demonstrated in four case studies.