Sintering Process vs. Annealing Process
What is the difference between sintering and annealing?
Sintering, also called frittage, uses heat to agglomerate metal particles. Sintering in metallurgy uses heat treatment to increase the material’s strength and structural integrity. In many industries, the powder metallurgy process uses sintering to create end-use parts.
The annealing process is similar to sintering because it alters a material’s physical and, sometimes, chemical properties. An annealing oven uses heat to remove internal stresses from certain materials, such as stoneware or metal. It requires heating a material above its recrystallization temperature. With annealing, the material maintains this temperature for a given amount of time, then cools.
Industries and Applications that Use Sintering Furnaces
The manufacturing industry uses sintering furnaces to produce metals, ceramics, plastics, and other materials. A sintering oven is commonly used by players in manufacturing to develop:
- Stainless-steel tools
- Shotgun shells
- Aircraft hydraulic systems
- Pottery
- Ceramics
- Ski bases
- Snowboard bases
Selecting a Sintering Furnace
To determine the type of sintering furnace you need, evaluate your application, production processes, and other requirements, such as:
- Furnace size opening
- Operating temperature
- Furnace process atmosphere
- Material type and mass of component
- Required furnace output
Low-volume products usually require a batch furnace, while medium- or high-volume productions often require a continuous furnace or even a custom furnace, depending on your project.
Sentro Tech Sintering Furnaces
Sentro Tech is a leading manufacturer of custom, high-temperature sintering furnaces. These furnaces help you with 3D metal printing, laboratories, and production applications. Our sintering furnace models offer excellent temperature control, uniformity, and energy efficiency. Reduce laboratory costs for small-scale production with a standard model or custom-build a sintering furnace to meet your exact specifications.
Learn more about our sintering furnaces for metal 3D printing, small labs and production processes.