scope:

Introduction & Scope

The Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) is a voluntary-membership, not-for-profit trade association formed by the members of the PM and particulate materials industry to promote the advancement of the metal powder producing and consuming industries and the practice of powder metallurgy and particulate materials technologies. MPIF is a federation of six trade associations, each of which is concerned with some aspect of powder metallurgy (PM), metal injection molding (MIM), metal additive manufacturing (AM), metal powders or particulate materials: the Powder Metallurgy Parts Association (PMPA), Metal Powder Producers Association (MPPA), Refractory Metals Association (RMA), Powder Metallurgy Equipment Association (PMEA), Metal Injection Molding Association (MIMA), and the Association for Metal Additive Manufacturing (AMAM).

MPIF standards cover five categories:

1. PM Nomenclature

2. Powder (Material) Test Method Standards (Testing Procedures)

3. Materials Standards/Specifications for PM Structural Parts, PM Self-Lubricating Bearings, PF Steel and MIM Parts

4. Product (Parts) Test Method Standards (Testing Procedures)

5. PM Press Safety Standards (ANSI/MPIF)

Certain trade associations within MPIF have established standards committees composed of technical people who are responsible for developing standards within their area of expertise and proposing them to the MPIF membership. Before a standard can be issued as an official MPIF standard, it must be approved by the MPIF corporate-voting membership as a whole. The standards contained in this book have all been adopted under this procedure.

MPIF standards are intended to present and clarify PM technology so as to aid in the conduct of business. PM materials specifications and testing procedure standards relate to those activities that concern designers and users of PM parts as well as the producer of the material. The use of any MPIF standard is entirely voluntary. Existence of an MPIF standard does not in any respect preclude any member or non-member of MPIF from manufacturing or selling products that use materials or testing procedures not included in MPIF standards. Other materials, products or testing procedures other than those identified in any MPIF standard may exist.

Neither MPIF nor any of its members assumes or accepts any liability resulting from use or non-use of any MPIF standard. MPIF does not accept any liability or responsibility for the compliance of any product with any standard, the achievement of any minimum or typical values by any supplier, or for the results of any testing or other procedure undertaken in accordance with any standard. By publication of these standards, no position is taken with respect to the validity of any patent rights nor does MPIF undertake to insure anyone utilizing the Standards against liability for infringement of any Letters Patent or accept any such liability.

MPIF standards are subject to periodic review and may be revised at any time by the group responsible for their creation. Users are cautioned to refer to the latest edition. Comments from any source concerning the standards or MPIF's standards programs are welcome.