Using binder-treatment technology for high-performance steel powder mixes

Abstract

FLOMET technology is a binder treatment blending technique that consists of bonding fine particles of graphite, metallic additives and lubricants to the coarser iron particles using a solid organic binder. The main advantages of binder-treated mixes compared to conventional mixes are better flow, improved productivity and part consistency and reduced dusting and segregation. These attributes make bindertreated mixes well suited for high performance PM applications as well as other types of applications requiring mixes with excellent die filling characteristics. QMP introduced a family of binder-treated mixes in the mid 1990\u2019s. Since then, R&D efforts were pursued to continuously improve the properties of this type of mix and to develop better performing binder-treated mixes for specific applications. This paper reviews the physical, green and sintered properties of binder-treated materials. Particular attention is paid to the processing characteristics of these materials.Peer reviewed: NoNRC publication: Ye