The Usage of Powder Metallurgy in Power Electronic Applications

Abstract:
Power Metallurgy offers a wide spectrum of different powder-based production routes. The design capabilities, the resulting high component precision, the unique material utilization and the tailorable material properties make that material class and production route attractive for power electronic applications where various requirements must be fulfilled. Virtually fully dense aluminum and copper components can be produced. Special care must be taken to keep the level of contamination as low as possible. For very demanding applications special composites and pseudo-alloys are available, too. The product development is supported by rigorous testing, characterization and numerical simulation attempts to match the requirements.