The process of sintering occurs in long, continuous belt furnaces at high temperatures. The particles bond to each other in a solid state providing the required strength.
Once a powder metal part is compacted and collected at the press, it undergoes a sintering process to molecularly bond the powder particles together to provide the required the strength and hardness. Sintering is a high-temperature, continuous-belt process done in a specially designed furnace. A protective atmosphere is used to prevent oxidation and remove any lubricants in the material necessary for compaction. The temperature, time, and atmosphere are controlled and monitored to achieve the desired properties.