Compressor Valve Plate

MPP won the 2000 Grand Prize in the Ferrous category for this copper-infiltrated steel compressor valve plate. The valve plate is a drop-in replacement component used in diesel truck air conditioning systems as well as stationary refrigeration applications. It replaces a machined, four-piece copper-brazed stamping that was contributing to a 35% scrap rate due to voids in the joining of the individual pieces. The unusual geometry of the MPP parts comes from sinter-bonding the three-part assembly into a single unit. The plate body and two valve seat inserts are copper-infiltrated to make a stronger part. The finished part is flat and parallel to within .0005 in. per square inch of surface area. It carries tensile and yield strengths of 80,000 and 60,000 psi, respectively. The powder metallurgy part provides a 30% cost savings over the former stamped plate.

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