Welcome to PMAI
The PMAI is the premier organization for Powder Metallurgy (PM) professionals in India and was founded in 1973. For nearly 5 decades, PMAI has been working tirelessly to further the Field of Powder Metallurgy in India.Activities of PMAI include a 4 day introductory course on "Powder Metallurgy" for industrial personnel, prospective entrepreneurs and Metallurgy Students.PMAI also conducts Courses on Tool Design, as well as Topical Seminars.PMAI hosts an Annual International Conference during which Industry and Academia from World Over, come together under one roof to share knowledge and network.The publications of PMAI are: PM news letters,Transactions of PMAI, Proceedings of Topical Seminars.
The Powder Metallurgy Association of India has been Promoting Powder Metallurgy related activities over the past three decades.
What is Powder Metallurgy?
Powder Metallurgy - or P/M - is a highly developed method of manufacturing reliable ferrous and nonferrous parts. Made by mixing elemental or alloy powders and compacting the mixture in a die, the resultant shapes are then sintered or heated in a controlled-atmosphere furnace to bond the particles metallurgically. Basically a "chipless" metalworking process, P/M typically uses more than 97% of the starting raw material in the finished part. Because of this, P/M is an energy and materials conserving process.
The P/M process is cost effective in producing simple or complex parts at, or very close to, final dimensions in production rates which can range from a few hundred to several thousand parts per hour. As a result, only minor, if any, machining is required. P/M parts also may be sized for closer dimensional control and /or coined for both higher density and strength. Most P/M parts weigh less than 5 pounds (2.27 kg), although parts weighing as much as 35 pounds (15.89 kg) can be fabricated in conventional P/M equipment. Many of the early P/M parts , such as bushings and bearings, were very simple shapes, as contrasted with the complex contours and multiple levels which are often produced economically today.
Advantages of the P/M Process
- » Eliminates or minimizes machining
- » Eliminates or minimizes scrap losses
- » Maintains close dimensional tolerances
- » Permits a wide variety of alloy systems
- » Produces good surface finishes
- » Provides materials which may be heat-treated for increased strength or increased wear resistance
- » Provides controlled porosity for self-lubrication or filtration
- » Facilitates manufacture of complex or unique shapes which would be impractical or impossible with other metalworking processes
- » Suited to moderate to high volume component production requirements
- » Offers long-term performance reliability in critical applications
- » Cost effective