Patent ID: 6365093
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: B22F,Y02P

Abstract:
A method of strengthening green form parts made from metal powder, comprising the steps of:preparing a powder blend comprising: a metal powder, a cross-linkable polymer in powder form, a second polymer binder in powder form, wherein said second polymer binder is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer having a melting temperature Tm and said cross-linkable polymer is a thermoset binder having a melting temperature about equal to or greater than Tm which initiates cross-linking at a temperature no greater than Tm; blending said metal powder with said cross-linkable polymer powder and said second polymer binder powder; compacting said blended powders into a green form part; heating said green form part to a temperature sufficient to induce cross-linking in said cross-linkable polymer; and heating said green form part to a temperature sufficient to induce transient liquid sintering and isothermal resolidification to densify said part, the retained mechanical properties of said cross-linked polymer providing additional strength to said metal part throughout said densification.