Powdermet's Technology

Powdermet’s technology is based on the design and production of engineered particle building blocks that incorporate nano, micro, and meso-scale structural features engineered into safe, free flowing particle delivery system.  These engineered particles incorporate metals, ceramics, and polymers with compositions and phase distributions engineered and controlled on three length scales simultaneously.  Using standard powder metallurgy and polymer fabrication techniques, these engineered building blocks are turned into components with exceptional levels of performance and value, solving some of the toughest materials challenges faced by military and industrial users.  Powdermet’s core technical competencies include:  particle size reduction and agglomeration, spray drying, mechanical alloying, fluidized bed processing, particle encapsulation, chemical vapor deposition, high pressure synthesis, metalorganic synthesis, preceramic polymer, sol-gel;  and reaction synthesis, nanopowder synthesis, metal and ceramic injection molding, tape casting, extrusion, rolling, sintering, calcining, thermal spray, hot pressing, electrospinning, and polymer dispersion process technologies.

Shown above are Powdermet's Pilot Scale Fluidized Bed CVD Reactors, production and R&D Scale Glatt Coater for producing Meso-structured Powders.

The fluidized bed technique eliminates any inhomegeneties in matrix distribution and any potential for phase segregation during handling and spraying. It also enables fusion parameters to be developed which the coating is maintained as a continuous phase in the resultant coating.

S1 Attritor for producing trial batches of nanocomposite powders and Utility Spray Drier for producing spherical nanocomposite particles, along with spray-dried and sintered nanocomposite powder.