Metal Powder Products - Specialty Materials - Copper, Copper Infiltrated Iron & Steel

MPP produces components from a variety of specialty materials, including copper, copper alloys, and copper-infiltrated irons and steels.

Copper and Copper Alloys

Pure electrolytic grade copper has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity and is often used in heat sink or electrical contactor applications.
Brass is typically available with copper levels of 90%, 80% or 70% Cu, balance Zn. 1-2% Pb may be added to improve machinability. These materials are often used in structural applications, where corrosion resistance and appearance are important.
Bronze contains 10% Sn, balance Cu. This material is often used in self-lubricating bearings, where densities and mechanical performance higher than those of brass are required.
Nickel Silver normally contains 18% Zn and 18% Ni, balance Cu. This alloy contains no silver but gets its name from its silvery gray appearance. Nickel Silver has better corrosion resistance and mechanical properties than brass and is often used for decorative purposes.
All of these materials can be repressed to improve dimensional conformance, density, yield strength, and hardness. However, there is a decrease in ductility.

Copper Infiltrated Iron and Steels

Copper infiltration slugs are placed in intimate contact with the iron or steel part.
In the sintering furnace, as the temperature rises, the copper melts and the molten metal permeates into the pores of the steel compact by capillary action.
The steel compact can be green or pre-sintered; if the latter, the process is called infiltration.
Infiltration is usually referred to as copper permeating into a sintered steel part, but any low melting point material can be used. When the steel part is unsintered (green), the process is known as sinfiltration.
The final part can be used in the sintered or heat treated condition.
Copper infiltration of a steel part will:
- Increase density
- Increase mechanical strength
- Increase fatigue strength
- Improve machinability
- Improve sound dampening characteristics
- Permit chemical plating of part
- Permit joining of parts with braze or copper
- Permit use in pressure tight applications