Materials technology drives impeller design

For the manufacture of small runs of corrosion and/or abrasion resistant pump impellers, powder metallurgy offers a potentially economic alternative to casting. A collaborative research project in Germany has in investivated the potential of this application, including the ability of powder metal materials to perform in the harsh environments experienced by these parts. C.M. Sonsino of the Fraunhofer-Institut for Betriebsfestigkeit (LBF) in Darmstadt, R. Zieschang of KSB AG in Frankenthal, together with V. Arnhold and D. Gonia of GKN Sinter Metals in Radevormwald and K.-H. Sandritter of Hoganas GmbH report on their findings.