A research institute specializing in Materials Science

Powder Materials Division

Department of Metal Powder

Head of Department 'Yang, Sang-seon'
Head of Department
Yang, Sang-seon

Department Introduction

Department of Metal Powder is the only specialized laboratory in Korea that is continuously researching and developing powder metallurgy from nanopowder to micro powder. We possess various original technologies related to manufacturing metal powder material and part, maintaining an advanced research system with specialized equipment, and also have excellent commercialization results such as technology transfer, researcher start-up, and research institute company establishment. Based on ‘National Laboratory for Metal Powder’ and ‘National Team for Metal Powder’, we are building a network and leading the technology, as a hub in the field of metal powder research.

+82-55-280-3517

Major Activities

  • 2 new patents for tungsten powder, 2 new patents applied for thermoelectric materials
  • Registration of 4 patents related to conductive powder, magnetic powder, electronic parts, and 3D printing
  • 11 publications related to soft magnetic powder, thermoelectric powder, alloy, and functional stainless steel
  • 1 technical advice, 55 technical support and the royalty(5, total 110 million KRW)

Major Research Area

  • Metal powder manufacturing with a high melting temperature
  • Development of conductive, ultra-fine powders
  • Fabrication of soft magnetic materials for the enhancement of electromagnetic characteristic
  • Development and application of metal porous materials for a filtration
  • Preparation of metal powders for pressureless sintering, MIM, HIP and 3D printing
  • Metal powder manufacturing as a catalyst under selective reaction

Future Research Plan

  • Ultra-refining and recycling of tungsten powder with a high melting temperature
  • Development of high purification for a conductive nano-powder (Cu, Ni, etc.)
  • Soft magnetic powder manufacturing for an electromagnetic conversion
  • Research for a porosity control of metal materials and Technology for a filtration characteristic
  • Development of metal composite powder for a catalyst

Major R&D Activities

Double-insulated soft magnetic composites for high-power-density motors

  • Soft magnetic composite is capable of manufacturing three-dimensional free-shaped soft magnetic cores, which can be advantageous in improving the power density of the motor compared to the conventional electrical steel. However, its practical use has been limited due to its poor soft magnetic properties.
  • In this study, we succeeded in realizing a soft magnetic composite with improved soft magnetic properties and mechanical strength compared to conventional materials by applying a double-insulated powder that maintains insulation properties even at high temperatures (>700℃).
  • Development of technology for implementing a double-insulated coating composed of an insulating layer with high-temperature stability and an insulating layer with high insulating properties.
  • Development of technology to fabricate high-performance soft magnetic composite through compaction of double-insulated powders and high-temperature heat treatment (>700℃).
  • Through technology transfer to a domestic company, a new high-performance soft magnetic composite can be applied to high-power-density motors.

Knife for MLCC or water jet spray nozzle

  • Nanoscale WC powder was synthesized using waste-grade cemented carbide sludge, and application technology was developed. Nano-WC powder was synthesized through this process, and a precision knife and a high abrasion resistance water jet nozzle were developed using a carbide material with high toughness and high wear resistance.
  • By controlling the sintered particles of nano WC carbide powder, it is applied to high-precision cutting tools by making it a high-toughness and high-hardness material.
  • Development of high-precision knife forming and defect-free sintering process technology
  • Manufacture of bindless grade carbide materials for high wear resistance : HV > 2,800 kgf/mm2
  • Water jet nozzle molding and high-density sintering through shape control
  • Water jet cutting field test and commercialization(Proceeding)

Manufacturing technology of metal composite powder for catalyst

  • It aims to secure a catalytic reaction customized metal powder manufacturing technology based on dry and wet processes. This technology makes it possible to synthesize a high-purity alloy powder of several hundred nanometers with an average particle size of 1 μm or less. And designed metal powders are synthesized containing a porous metal powder with 100 nm uniform pores and uniformly dispersed metal-carbon composite powder. The developed metal composite powder as hybrid catalysts capable of selective catalytic reaction.
  • Development of synthesis process for metal catalyst powder based on dry and wet methods
  • Development of high-purity porous metal powder material through shape control (purity>98%)
  • Development of metal-carbon composite powder material through composition control (manufacturing of threephase element alloys and composites)
  • Control of catalytic property of metal powder under customized catalytic reaction (in progress)