Sintering : Why use vacuum sintering??
At its root, vacuum sintering involves two things: a vacuum furnace and a combination of metallic powders. By using one properly and mixing the other in the right proportions, several useful properties can be promoted.
For instance, sintering can create metallic compounds that reduce the incidence of component failure in machinery or vehicles. And it is also very useful in creating components that demand high porosity – such as in plumbing or systems involving ball bearings. So if you need to strengthen a product or alter its porosity, sintering is often the best option available.
However, it’s important to remember that sintering generally cannot happen before another important process has taken place: debinding. And the two processes go together when planning purchasing decisions.
Debinding prepares materials or components for vacuum sintering, and it needs to Debinding: An Essential Preparation for Sintering be done thoroughly. All components will have impurities, often as a result of injection-molding processes. When these impurities are left on the surface of the component, they can easily contaminate the binding process .
Debinding refers to the removal of “binders,” which are deposited during production processes. Done poorly, it can result in blistering of component surfaces or the creation of pores that cannot be removed during the sintering phase .
That’s why it really matters how debinding is carried out. The exact process used depends completely on what type of binder is present. It could involve the use of specialist solvents but almost always involves decomposition of organic binders through heat treatment, generally at temperatures of 150-600°C (300-1110°F). Multiple passes through the furnace are often needed to ensure that all binder has been removed, and it pays to be cautious because even trace amounts can contaminate the sintering phase .
The benefits of vacuum sintering can be summarized as follows:
Clean, bright parts
Superior quality
Fewer defects
Easy maintenance
Production flexibility
