Sintering and pressing are two different processes used in powder metallurgy to create solid materials from metal powders.
Sintering is a process that involves applying pressure and heat to fuse metal powders together. It works by diffusing the atoms in the metal across the boundaries of the particles, creating one solid piece. The sintering temperature is always below the material's melting temperature, and the resulting product has low porosity and high density. Sintering can be used in additive manufacturing with 3D metal printers. It is commonly used in the powder metallurgy industry and the special ceramic industry. Sintering can result in products with fine grains and high mechanical strength due to the lower sintering temperature inhibiting grain growth.
On the other hand, pressing is a process that involves applying pressure to compact metal powders into a desired shape. It is often combined with sintering in a single chamber in a process called hot pressing. In hot pressing, the powder is first compacted into a green part, which is still a mass of individual metal particles. The compacted powder is then heated just below the critical melting point of the selected alloy, causing the particles to combine and sinter. The high pressure during hot pressing aids in reaching near theoretical densities, resulting in a product with greater density, low porosity, and improved mechanical qualities. Hot pressing can be further enhanced through vacuum hot pressing, which reduces the sintering temperature and effectively removes gas from the micro pores, promoting densification.
In summary, sintering and pressing are both processes used in powder metallurgy, but they have some differences. Sintering involves applying pressure and heat to fuse metal powders together, resulting in a solid piece. Pressing, specifically hot pressing, involves compacting metal powders and then heating them to encourage sintering. Hot pressing produces a product with greater density, low porosity, and improved mechanical qualities compared to traditional sintering methods.
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