PRESSING
Pressing: an essential phase in powder sintering
The pressing of metal powders is a key phase in the sintering process, in which mechanical parts take on their final shape.
The powder mix, combined with binders and lubricants, is introduced into the mold co-designed with the customer.
The mold, consisting of a matrix, punches and pin, is mounted on a press that compresses the mixture in a controlled manner — unilaterally or bilaterally — ensuring uniform density and dimensional accuracy in DL Sintered sintered components.
How the pressing process takes place
During the metal powder pressing process, the material is distributed and compacted inside the mold, progressively reducing its volume.
In the next phase, the powder grains undergo plastic deformation due to the pressure exerted, which promotes their densification and growth in density until they reach that typical of the base material.
The compression pressure is defined based on the desired density and varies according to the type of metal, the composition of the powder mix and their grain size, fundamental parameters for obtaining high-quality sintered components.
Extraction of the mechanical part
Once the pressing process is complete and the desired density is reached, the mold is opened and the compacted mechanical part, known at this stage as the "green part", is extracted.
Extraction is done using die extractors that precisely and delicately remove the component, avoiding any risk of breakage or deformation.
At this point, the sintered piece has acquired the density necessary to move on to the next phase of actual sintering, in which the material reaches its final strength and compactness.