Guangming Group Today Talks about Powder Metallurgy for Shock Absorbers

Shock absorber powder metallurgy is the process of pressing iron/copper/alloy powder into shape and high-temperature sintering to produce precision parts such as pistons, bottom valves, guide seats, and valve plates inside shock absorbers, replacing traditional machining/casting parts with high precision, low cost, and long service life.

1、 Where to use (core components)

Piston (core): equipped with throttle hole, controls oil flow rate and determines damping force; Porosity of 8-12%, self-lubricating, wear-resistant.

Bottom valve (seat): unidirectional throttling, controlling compression/rebound damping; High permeability and good damping linearity.

Guide seat/guide sleeve: supports piston rod, prevents eccentric wear; High precision (± 0.01mm), good coaxiality.

Valve/throttle plate: thin and porous, precise damping adjustment; Strong consistency and long fatigue life.

2、 Process principle (in simple terms)

Mixing powder: iron powder+copper powder+carbon powder+lubricant, evenly mixed.

Compression molding: The mold is pressed under high pressure (5-8 tons/cm ²) to form a "green body" with a shape similar to the finished product.

Sintering: High temperature sintering at 1100-1250 ℃, powder fusion, forming a porous alloy body.

Post processing: oil immersion (self-lubricating), finishing (tolerance control), surface hardening (wear-resistant).

3、 Advantages compared to traditional processing

✅  High precision: tolerance ± 0.01mm, porous structure can accurately design damping.

✅  Low cost: Material utilization rate>95%, less cutting, time-saving, and more cost-effective batch production.

✅  Good performance:

Porous → self-lubricating, preventing dry wear and reducing abnormal noise.

Adjustable density (6.9-7.2g/cm ³), balancing lightweight and strength.

Fatigue life ≥ 500000 times, better than machined parts.

✅  Strong consistency: Mold forming, stable batch quality, suitable for automated assembly.

4、 Materials and Key Parameters

Mainstream material: Fe-Cu-C (iron copper carbon), with the highest cost-effectiveness; High end Fe Ni Cu Mo.

Density: 6.9-7.2g/cm ³ (high density=high strength).

Porosity: 8-12% (piston/bottom valve), balancing throttling and strength.

Tensile strength: 550-620MPa, suitable for high-frequency impact of shock absorbers.

5、 Common problems and key points for purchasing

Afraid of inferior parts: insufficient density (<6.8g/cm ³), uneven pores → prone to oil leakage, damping failure, and abnormal noise.

Choose from 3 points:

Material: Fe-Cu-C genuine, refuse to recycle powder/low purity powder.

Density: ≥ 7.0g/cm ³, with weight and no looseness when weighed by hand.

Appearance: The surface is delicate without cracks, the hole positions are uniform, and there are no burrs.

6、 Market and Trends

The penetration rate of powder metallurgy parts for passenger car shock absorbers is>68%, and may exceed 75% by 2026.

The usage of new energy vehicle models has increased significantly, and the demand for lightweight and NVH control is driving upgrades.

After sales market: Powder metallurgy shock absorber parts have become mainstream replacement parts with high cost-effectiveness.

Powder metallurgy, metal injection molding, powder metallurgy gears China、manufacturer、factory 、 supplie

Guangming Group focuses on the research and development of metal forming technology and wear-resistant materials. Its main products include metal compression molding and injection molding powder metallurgy products.

The company has a team of high-quality talents, with the founding team originating from the Guangzhou Nonferrous Metals Research Institute, a directly affiliated national and ministerial level scientific research institution. It has rich industry experience and research and development capabilities, providing a continuous source of innovation power for the company's development. The company has successively obtained 5 invention patents and more than 30 utility model patents. It has passed the IATF16949 quality management system, ISO9001-2015 quality management system, ISO14001 environmental management system, intellectual property management system, and obtained international trademark certification. It is an innovative enterprise in Guangdong Province, a small giant enterprise in science and technology in Guangzhou, a member of the Guangdong Powder Metallurgy Industry Technology Innovation Alliance, and an initiator of the Guangzhou Advanced Powder Metallurgy Cluster Promotion Center.