A performance comparison of current P/M lubricants and routes to improvement

Greater demands are being placed on lubricant performance because of general industry trends toward more intricate part shapes with related tooling complexity and the incorporation of abrasive additives in mixes. To illustrate the significance of these performance demands, it is necessary to identify the role lubricants play in mixing and the P/M part manufacturing process. This work examines the effects of lubricants on material flow, apparent density, compaction, ejection characteristics and sintered properties. The findings identify key performance elements which provide a model for developing an improved P/M lubricant. A performance comparison with a commercial lubricant highlights the advantages of a composite lubricant that was evaluated.