Powder metallurgical products are indispensable in many industries. They are used in traditional applications such as bearings, gears, or filters as well as in additive manufacturing of metallic components. In all these areas, the quality of powder processing determines how stable processes run and how consistent the component quality is in the end.
Typical products and technical terms in powder metallurgy:
- Metal powders based on iron, stainless steel, titanium, or nickel
- Alloy and additive mixtures
- Powder blends for pressing and sintering processes
- Metal powders for additive manufacturing processes (Metal AM)
- Functionalized powders with flow or compaction aids
Requirements for mixing, drying, and processing
Powder metallurgical processes place high demands on powder preparation. Additives, alloying elements, or flow aids must be evenly distributed - because even small deviations affect compaction and sintering behavior. At the same time, the powders must not ”suffer”. Abrasion, grain destruction, or demixing change flowability and bulk density and make processes unstable. This is particularly critical in additive manufacturing, where uniform powder layers and reproducible dosing are crucial. In many applications, wetting or coating steps with subsequent drying are also added, requiring controlled heat transfer.
amixon® solutions for powder metallurgy
amixon® develops and builds mixing, mixing-drying, and reactor technology for industrial powder processes that require homogeneity, reproducible powder characteristics, safe process control, and gentle handling of the product.
A special focus is on applications with abrasive metal powders. Here, wear-resistant designs of mixing tools and product-contact surfaces ensure that abrasion is reduced and the systems operate reliably even with challenging powders.
Typical process engineering tasks:
- uniform distribution of additives and alloy components
- product-friendly powder preparation for pressing and AM processes
- wetting and subsequent controlled drying
- safe emptying and easy cleaning during product changes
