Global PM Property Database (GPMPD)
The introduction of data for MIM materials to the Global PM Property database in March 2007 had, within the first 6 months, sparked an increase of around 1,000 to the total numbers of registered users.
The MIM content of the database now covers a range of stainless steels, low alloy steels, iron-nickel elemental mixes, tool steels, soft magnetic grades and non-ferrous grades (Ti and Ti-6Al-4V).
The basic structure and operation of the database remains similar to that first introduced in 2004 for conventional PM structural part and bearing materials (described in an earlier feature in this publication).
The changes, to allow the addition of MIM material content, first become apparent with the appearance of a new first selection page in all search options that allows the differentiation between a MIM-specific search and a Conventional PM search (Fig. 1).
Search options then remain similar to the original structure, until the point where plots are created from individual grade reports. As MIM materials are always deliberately processed to achieve density levels within a few percent of full density, it was not considered appropriate to create plots of properties against density for a given MIM material. Instead, histograms, of the range of properties in the database content for the particular material, are presented. Fig. 2 shows a typical example – the range of as-sintered ultimate tensile strength levels for the 17-4PH stainless steel grade.
As with the conventional PM materials, the automatic creation of FEA download files from grade reports is supported for all ferrous materials, including stainless steels.
Global PM Property Database (GPMPD)
www.pmdatabase.com
