Applications for Precious Metal Powders

摘要

The Powder Metallurgy (P/M) industry for non-precious metals has exhibited continual growth for the past 50 years. This is the result of increased use of traditional P/M methods and the implementation of new uses of metal powders in industrial applications. Many of these uses are directly applicable to the precious metal industries. Parts manufacture from press and sinter and metal injection molding, solders and brazes, coatings by thermal spraying, and the manufacture of oxide dispersion strengthened alloys have been utilized for precious metals. In addition, there are other uses for precious metal powders outside of these methods. Certain biological/dental applications and the use of powder conversion for refining are relatively unique to the precious metal industry. This paper will present an overview of P/M and its applications to the precious metal industry.