Sintering method using a polyphenylene oxide-coated powdered metal

PURPOSE: To provide a sintering method using polyphenylene oxide coated powdered metal. CONSTITUTION: A polymer thermoplastic coating agent is provided for coating the powdered metal and, more particularly, for coating the powdered metal to be sintered in order to be formed into parts, for instance to be formed to magnetic cores. This thermoplastic material is a polyphenylene oxide which, when properly applied to metal particles to form a magnetic core, is characterized by being sufficiently volatile so as to prevent the formation of contaminants or voids within a sintered body which would be detrimental to the physical properties of the sintered body. Moreover, the polyphenylene oxide provides sufficient lubrication and adhesion between adjacent metal particles during an initial compaction process so as to sustain a desired shape of the molded article and maximize metal particle density without the use of additional lubricants, thereby preventing the formation of the additional contaminants and/or voids within the resultant sintered body from such additional lubricants.