Hitit University researchers patent low-cost sintering method

Academics from Hitit University have developed a “closed tube sintering” method that significantly reduces the cost of processing metal powders into solid masses. The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) has officially granted a patent for the technique following 10 months of laboratory research.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Bünyamin Çiçek, the new method reduces the average cost of the sintering process from approximately $10 to just $0.25. The process involves placing materials such as magnesium, titanium, iron, or steel into silica tubes, which are then sealed at both ends to create a low-oxygen environment. This allows for sintering in standard, low-cost thermal treatment furnaces without the need for expensive inert gas atmospheres like argon.

The technology has potential applications across various sectors, including the defense and medical industries.