Graphite Powder in Powder Metallurgy: Enhancing Gears and Structural Components

Powder metallurgy (PM) has become a core process in the automotive and machinery industries, allowing for efficient mass production of gears, bearings, and structural parts with high precision and material utilization.

One of the most widely used additives in PM is natural flake graphite powder. Its properties make it essential in achieving optimal performance in sintered components.

1. The Role of Graphite in PM

   
   

• Lubrication during compaction: Reduces friction between powder particles, ensuring higher green density and reducing die wear.

• Sintering aid: Improves carbon distribution, influencing hardness and strength of iron-based parts.

• Porosity control: Helps manage pore distribution, critical for wear resistance.

  
  

2. Graphite in Automotive Gears and Bearings

European automotive suppliers frequently incorporate flake graphite in the 200–325 mesh range, at 0.5–1.0% carbon addition, into iron-based powder mixes. This improves:

• Dimensional stability of gears

• Load-bearing capacity

• Friction resistance in bearings

  
  

3. Performance Benefits

• Lubricity: Lowers the coefficient of friction, enhancing service life of gears.

• Strength: Supports uniform densification during sintering.

• Thermal stability: Ensures performance in high-temperature applications.

  
  

4. Case Study: European PM Gear Supplier

A European Tier-1 automotive supplier optimized its PM gear production by shifting to consistent-quality flake graphite powder. Results showed:

• 7% increase in sintered density

• 12% improvement in wear resistance

• Reduced die maintenance cost due to improved lubrication

  
  

5. Our Advantage

At Qingdao Xinghe Graphite, we deliver tailored particle sizes and carbon contents, ensuring reliable supply for PM manufacturers worldwide. Our graphite helps clients improve part consistency and reduce operational costs.