Powder metallurgy, the technology of utilizing metal powders, offers the engineer a means conserving materials, reducing machining and securing a uniform product at a reasonable cost. One of the largest European producers of copper and copper alloy powder and a member of the GRIPM family of companies, MMP offers global product technology and supply chain capability, with a wealth of experience in the copper powder industry stretching back over 70 years. The article 'Decomposition process for iron, cobalt, nickel and copper formates' published in Poroshk. Commercial brass powders are available in the simple brasses ranging from 95Cu-5Zn to 60Cu-40Zn and leaded versions of these brasses, and in modified brasses containing such elements as phosphorus, manganese and silicon.

The effective pore size can be varied widely but for P/M filters generally ranges from 5-125 microns. The copper powder formed upon decomposition reaches the predetermined temperature at which the decomposition atmosphere is maintained in a short period of time because of the excellent thermal conductivity of copper powder, and the copper powder becomes copper formate vapor (copper (I) formate) at that temperature Formed copper formate, and also formic acid gas, which is formed in the decomposition, and exposed to gases of the decomposition products of formic acid.A unique attribute of powder metallurgy is the ability to produce porous products with interconnected porosity. New applications continue to be found and the self-lubricating bronze bearing industry consumes a major portion of the copper powder produced each year. The water-insoluble components were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry and found to have a composition corresponding to an approximately 1: 1 mixture of unreacted cupric oxide and basic copper formate.

A practical measure of this is that when a sample of anhydrous copper formate in an amount of 10 mg in a nitrogen or hydrogen gas atmosphere at a heating rate of 3 ° C / min.

With this combination of strength and corrosion resistance, the alloys can be used for the production of P/M parts such as impellers, gears, connecting rods and similar components.

The results obtained on the peak temperatures in the calorimetric changes (endothermic, exothermic or the like changes) and the decomposition products are shown in Table 1. To 1,62 kg of copper hydroxide powder was added 4,8 kg of 80-percent aqueous formic acid solution, and this mixture was stirred for one hour. g/cm 1 by pressing and sintering alone, and, therefore, the properties of P/M parts are influenced by the density attained.Blanks of suitable size are cut from the bimetallic strip, formed and drilled with oil holes or machined to form suitable grooves. Examples of the many applications are hardware for latch bolts and cylinders for locks; shutter components for cameras; gears, cams and actuator bars in timing assemblies; small generator drive assemblies; and decorative trim and medallions. Table 1 also shows that the decomposition peak temperatures of the anhydrous copper formate non-occlusive copper compounds are considerably different from those of the anhydrous copper formate, although some of the former overlap slightly with the latter. The average size of the Fe and Co particles obtained by the formate decomposition was 0,1 to 0,3, 60 µm and the specific surface area was about XNUMX m² / g. Depending on the sintered density, these bearings can absorb from 10% to 30% by volume of oil and can supply a continuous lubricating film even at low speeds.