Stainless steels, low alloy steels, soft magnetic alloys, tungsten heavy alloys, titanium and copper — all qualified in production at SINTS. Mechanical data below is typical sintered performance, not powder supplier datasheet values.
Most buyers arrive with a functional need rather than a material number. This is how we map one to the other.
| If your part must… | First choice | Alternative | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resist corrosion & touch skin | 316L | 304L | Low carbon austenitic, biocompatible, passivates readily |
| Be hard and strong | 17-4PH (H900) | MIM-4605 hardened | 1,100+ MPa tensile, 33 HRC without a coating |
| Wear against another metal | MIM-4605 carburized | FC-0208 PM steel | 55–62 HRC case with tough core |
| Carry magnetic flux | Fe-2Ni or Fe-3Si | Pure iron | High permeability, low coercivity after anneal |
| Be heavy in a small volume | Tungsten heavy alloy | — | 17–18.5 g/cm³, twice the density of steel |
| Be light and bio-inert | Ti-6Al-4V | CP Titanium | 4.4 g/cm³ with excellent implant compatibility |
| Conduct heat or current | Copper / Cu-W | Bronze PM | High thermal and electrical conductivity |
| Run as a self-lubricating bushing | Bronze CT-1000 | Sintered iron oil-impregnated | 18–25% interconnected porosity holds oil |
The workhorse family for MIM. Roughly 70% of SINTS MIM volume runs in 316L or 17-4PH.
| Grade | Density (g/cm³) | Tensile (MPa) | Yield (MPa) | Elong. (%) | Hardness | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316L | 7.60–7.90 | 480–550 | 140–180 | 40–50 | 120–150 HV | Surgical instruments, watch cases, marine fittings, food contact |
| 304L | 7.55–7.85 | 450–520 | 150–190 | 35–45 | 115–145 HV | General hardware, brackets, appliance parts |
| 17-4PH (as-sintered) | 7.50–7.70 | 900–1,000 | 700–780 | 6–10 | 27–30 HRC | Lock cams, latches, structural levers |
| 17-4PH (H900) | 7.50–7.70 | 1,100–1,250 | 1,000–1,100 | 4–8 | 33–38 HRC | High-load lock parts, tool components, firearm parts |
| 17-4PH (H1150) | 7.50–7.70 | 850–950 | 650–750 | 10–14 | 26–30 HRC | Where toughness outranks peak hardness |
| 420 / 440C | 7.40–7.60 | 750–1,900* | — | 2–8 | up to 56 HRC | Blades, cutting edges, wear inserts |
| 430L (ferritic) | 7.40–7.60 | 400–450 | 250–290 | 20–28 | 110–135 HV | Magnetic stainless applications, trim parts |
*440C properties vary widely with heat treatment condition. Values are confirmed per program during first article.
Where cost per piece and mechanical strength matter more than corrosion resistance. Usually plated or oiled after finishing.
| Grade | Process | Density (g/cm³) | Tensile (MPa) | Hardness | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIM-4605 | MIM | 7.50–7.65 | 1,000–1,650 | 25–48 HRC | Gears, cams, tool jaws, transmission parts |
| MIM-2200 (Fe-2Ni) | MIM | 7.55–7.65 | 290–450 | 45–70 HRB | Soft magnetic cores, low-stress structural parts |
| MIM-4140 | MIM | 7.45–7.60 | 1,000–1,500 | 28–45 HRC | Fasteners, shafts, torque-carrying components |
| FC-0208 | PM | 6.6–7.1 | 350–520 | 60–80 HRB | Spur gears, sprockets, structural PM parts |
| FN-0205 | PM | 6.8–7.2 | 450–620 | 70–90 HRB | High-strength gears, connecting rods, levers |
| F-0000 (pure Fe) | PM | 6.4–7.0 | 150–250 | 30–50 HRB | Magnetic pole pieces, low-cost spacers |
| FLN2-4405 (sinter-hardened) | PM | 6.9–7.2 | 700–950 | 28–36 HRC | Power tool gears, ratchet components |
For solenoids, sensor cores, relay armatures and pole pieces where magnetic performance is the functional spec.
| Grade | Density (g/cm³) | Max permeability (µ max) | Coercivity Hc (A/m) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Fe | 7.55–7.70 | 4,000–6,000 | 80–160 | DC solenoid cores, simple pole pieces |
| Fe-2Ni | 7.55–7.65 | 3,000–5,000 | 100–200 | Sensor housings, armatures, general soft magnetic |
| Fe-3Si | 7.40–7.55 | 6,000–9,000 | 60–120 | AC applications, lower eddy current loss |
| Fe-50Ni | 8.10–8.25 | 25,000–40,000 | 8–20 | High-sensitivity relays, precision sensors, shielding |
| Fe-Co (permendur type) | 7.90–8.10 | 4,000–7,000 | 100–250 | High saturation flux density actuators |
Magnetic properties are anneal-dependent. State the required permeability, coercivity and saturation on the drawing and we will set the sinter and anneal cycle accordingly.
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Key property | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tungsten heavy alloy (W-Ni-Fe) | 17.0–18.5 | Extreme density, radiation shielding | Counterweights, balance weights, vibration masses, shielding collimators |
| Tungsten carbide (WC-Co) | 13.8–15.0 | 1,300–1,700 HV, extreme wear resistance | Nozzles, wear pads, cutting inserts, forming dies |
| Ti-6Al-4V | 4.35–4.45 | 900–1,000 MPa at 4.4 g/cm³, bio-inert | Orthopaedic instruments, aerospace brackets, premium consumer |
| CP Titanium (Grade 2) | 4.40–4.50 | Excellent corrosion resistance, ductile | Implant components, chemical handling parts |
| Copper (MIM Cu) | 8.60–8.90 | ≥ 80% IACS conductivity | Heat sinks, thermal spreaders, electrical contacts |
| Cu-W composite | 14.0–17.0 | Arc erosion resistance + conductivity | Contact tips, EDM electrodes, heat spreaders |
| Bronze CT-1000 (self-lubricating) | 6.4–6.8 | 18–25% oil-filled porosity | Sleeve bearings, oil-retaining bushings |
| Cobalt-chrome (F75 type) | 8.20–8.40 | High wear + biocompatibility | Dental and orthopaedic components |
Choosing the coating early avoids a redesign later — some finishes need extra dimensional allowance on the tool.
| Treatment | Compatible with | Thickness | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passivation (ASTM A967) | 316L, 304L, 17-4PH | Nanometre film | Removes free iron, restores chromium oxide layer |
| Electropolishing | 316L, 304L | 5–25 µm removal | Ra to 0.2 µm, deburrs micro edges, medical cleanliness |
| Nickel plating | Steels, PM iron | 3–15 µm | Corrosion barrier, decorative uniform finish |
| Zinc plating + passivate | Low alloy steels, PM | 5–12 µm | Sacrificial corrosion protection, low cost |
| Black oxide | Steels | < 2 µm | Matte black appearance, mild corrosion resistance |
| PVD (TiN / DLC / black chrome) | Stainless, tool steels | 1–4 µm | 2,000–3,000 HV wear surface, premium appearance |
| Steam treatment | PM iron, FC grades | 2–5 µm Fe₃O₄ | Seals surface porosity, raises hardness and corrosion resistance |
| Vibratory / tumble finish | All | — | Standard edge break and Ra improvement, included by default |
316L for corrosion resistance and skin contact. 17-4PH when the part is loaded: heat treated to H900 it reaches 1,100+ MPa and 33 HRC. If you need both, 17-4PH passivated is usually acceptable for indoor and light outdoor exposure.
7.6–7.9 g/cm³, or 96–99% of wrought density. The remaining porosity is closed and isolated, so corrosion behaviour tracks wrought material closely.
Yes for 17-4PH (H900 / H1025 / H1150), MIM-4605 (quench & temper or carburize to 55–62 HRC) and 440C. Austenitic 316L and 304L cannot be hardened thermally.
Yes — pure Fe, Fe-2Ni, Fe-3Si, Fe-50Ni and Fe-Co. Permeability ranges from 3,000 to 40,000 depending on grade and anneal cycle.
Every shipment carries a material certificate traceable to the powder lot, plus the sinter charge record. Full chemistry and mechanical test reports are available on request or as part of PPAP.
Feedstock development for a new alloy takes roughly 4–8 weeks including sinter trials and property verification. Send the specification and target properties and our metallurgy team confirms feasibility before you commit.
Practical answers for OEM sourcing and engineering teams.
316L, 304L, 17-4PH (as-sintered, H900, H1150), 420, 440C and 430L, for MIM and powder metallurgy.
Yes. Pure Fe, Fe-2Ni, Fe-3Si, Fe-50Ni and Fe-Co for sensors, solenoids and magnetic components.
W-Ni-Fe heavy alloy, WC-Co, Ti-6Al-4V and CP titanium, plus copper, Cu-W, bronze and cobalt-chrome.
The Materials page lists grade-by-grade density, tensile strength, yield, elongation and hardness.
