Aluminium PM 'is a challenge that industry can overcome'

The sponsorship of a research project by the German Government, which reveals the role of the aluminum PM in the auto industry, was described. The PM aluminum alloys have potential in automotive components, particularly for sliding and friction parts. PM processing offers some significant advantages over casting, which can provide a wear-resistant and machinable product. Oil pump rotors are heavily under operating conditions and durability testing of PM aluminum rotors performed in a transmission test stand exhibited that Alumix231 can meet the main demands on material properties. PM aluminum pump rotors would allow the replacement of previous cast iron pump housings for significant weight savings of about 1 kg.