Outlook
Powder metallurgy

The market for highly stressed parts has been opening up over the last ten years or so with high densities. Ongoing work on lubricants will enable us to make further progress in this area. Different load physics could also lead to further progress (physical advances other than high speed, hot compression, etc., which could generate more deviatorics favorable to densification).

The other challenge lies in eliminating the final machining operations. Success depends on total control of weight and weight distribution. Significant work on the distribution system, and also on press control, should lead to this.