A new single-step plasma-assisted gas atomization process for metal powder manufacturing can reduce carbon footprint by over 99% compared to traditional methods. This technology uses scrap metals as feedstock, eliminating the need for virgin ores while meeting ASTM/AMS powder quality specifications. Beyond environmental benefits, the innovation addresses material scarcity that has historically constrained the additive manufacturing industry while mitigating supply chain delays and market uncertainties. The process supports manufacturers in achieving environmental goals through significant emissions reduction and localized sourcing.

John J. Croat and Masato Sagawa simultaneously and independently invented the world’s most powerful permanent magnet, the neodymium (NdFeB) magnet, and established two different manufacturing methods to produce it. Their achievement is recognized by the 2023 Honda Prize, awarded by the Honda Foundation. This article highlights each inventor’s research contributions.

Binder jet 3D metal printing is the ultimate bridge between prototypes and production of metal injection molded parts.

Thixoforming is a hybrid technology used to manufacture net shape components from a variety of alloys ranging from low melting temperature aluminum and magnesium to steel and Co-base alloys.

Field assisted sintering is a breakthrough technique for producing aluminum matrix composites that could replace high-density materials in a variety of applications.

New methods for processing titanium alloys offer the potential to enhance mechanical properties while reducing component cost. This article discusses innovative and potentially lower cost fabrication processes including additive manufacturing (AM), superplastic forming/diffusion, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) near-net shapes from prealloyed powder, injection molding, rapid solidification, mechanical alloying, and thermohydrogen processing.

Accurate and continuous dew point measurement is key to maintaining the atmosphere required to achieve high quality and consistency of sintered products in powder metallurgy processing.

Field assisted sintering technology (FAST) enables hybrid components for aerospace to be designed with reduced weight and without sacrificing performance. FAST can be used to produce metal, ceramic, and composite components with tailored properties via a powder metallurgy approach. In many cases, it is a one-step, cost-effective manufacturing process for production of net-shape components.

Vacuum heat treating is a crucial step in the additive manufacturing process cycle to meet required part quality specifications.

Field assisted sintering technology (FAST) enables cost-effective manufacturing of metal, ceramic, and composite components with sub-micron grain microstructures and tailored properties.

A hydrogen gas generator plant offers a flexible hydrogen supply solution to the powder metallurgy industry. This article provides an overview of a unique steam methane reformer that uses an integrated heat recovery system to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of hydrogen gas supply.

Powder metallurgy offers distinct advantages for the production of certain alloys. The degree to which contents of the alloy may be prescribed represents tremendous potential and supports alloy use in new applications. However, robust testing of powder metallurgy alloys is required to assess their potential and quality. Fatigue testing via the resonance principle enables metallurgists to achieve greater throughput in testing programs, while novel hardness testing platforms support analysis of individual phases in porous powder metallurgy specimens.

Conventional manufacturing from wrought bar stock typically involves extensive machining, creates significant material waste (scrap metal), and requires numerous steps to obtain the final part geometry. As a more efficient alternative, powder metallurgical (PM) processes are now available to cost effectively fabricate both simple and complex shapes with minimal material waste. Combustion driven higher pressure powder compaction (CDC) for near-net or net shape manufacturing was recently developed. It offers a unique way of forming near-net or net shape high-density powder metal components both cost effectively and at relatively higher compaction pressures than other PM processes.

Development of wear-resistant hardfacing materials using powder metallurgy/hot isostatic pressing technology offers an alternative to today's cobalt-based materials and those that suffer delamination damage. Ongoing research and development at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), detailed in this article, examines the application of wear-resistant hardfacing materials using the PM/HIP process. The hope is to eliminate weldability and residual stress challenges associated with some hardfacing alloys, as well as to provide a wider range of potential alloy solutions to reduce cobalt use and to address delamination issues with incumbent materials.

Selective-melt sintering is faster and more efficient than the methods currently used to make high-density ceramics. This article explains how applied electric fields contribute to the formation of metallic precipitates at grain boundaries and how defect segregation and field-assisted migration generate heat near dislocations and in grain boundaries, reducing flow stress and retarding grain growth in the solid state.

This article is the second in a two-part series on cost-saving methods for the production of titanium components. Part 1, published in the September 2012 issue of AM&P , covered a number of powder metallurgy techniques, including press-and-sinter and both cold and hot isostatic pressing. Other near-net shape processes are described here, including additive layer manufacturing (ALM), metal injection molding (MIM), and spray deposition (SD). Examples are also given showing how titanium PM parts compare with cast and wrought components.

This article, the first in a two-part series, explains how powder metallurgy presents a cost-effective alternative to conventional titanium fabrication processes. It reviews the characteristics of different types of titanium powders and compares and contrasts near-net shape (NNS) production techniques, including conventional press-and-sinter, cold isostatic pressing (CIP), hot isostatic pressing (HIP), CIP-sinter, and CIP-sinter-HIP (CHIP). Other titanium production methods are covered in Part 2, which is scheduled for the October 2012 issue of AM&P .

A powder metallurgy and hot isostatic pressing technology offers a new way to manufacture high pressure-retaining components for use in the power-generation industry.