IMPCO has developed a full range of impregnating materials, equipment, and services to seal the particulate voids and porosity of powdered metal parts. Impregnation provides greater flexibility and new opportunities for the design and manufacture of P/M parts. Impregnation saves costs by enabling design engineers and production managers to enlarge the range of applications for P/M components. IMPCO impregnation technology eliminates the problem of inherent structural porosity in P/M, allowing the parts to be used in pressure retention applications. IMPCO’s resins permanently seal the porosity and are capable of handling high pressure and temperatures.

Impregnation enhances capability of machining P/M parts, such as drilling, tapping or cutting. IMPCO resins serve as a combination lubricant, stabilizer and support for individual P/M granules. This makes machining more efficient by eliminating tool chatter which increases tool life (over 100 times) and improves overall finish quality.

Finish operations are also improved through impregnation. Prior to finishing, the impregnation process fills and seals the porous void within P/M parts, forming a barrier which prevents entrapment of moisture or plating solutions between the part’s surface and the applied coating. This allows good adhesion and prevents such defects as bubbling, spotting, blistering, etc.

Parts can be heated to 350ºF (175ºC) during painting or vulcanization without any resin bleedout to allow full utilization of the latest technologies in surface finishing.

IMPCO supplies all necessary materials and equipment of in-house impregnating operations or a full-service impregnation facility to process your P/M parts quickly and efficiently.