Powder metal casting

Can’t recall which list this was on, rockhounds or R&F, but am
trying to find info on a technique of jewelry casting. The
discussion was about that new clay jewelry metal, that can be
molded then cast; which brought up something called, “powder
casting?” It’s used in industry. Powdered metal is put into a
mold. Mold is heated, metal melts, hardens, and voila! another
self-lubricating gear.

I saw (and lost) a newspaper article about this, as a
technique for creating jewelry. Said this method of
jewelry-making goes back to the time of the ancient Greeks and
Romans. The article didn’t list any bibliographical info.

What I want is:
What is proper name given to this method?
Are there any books, manuals, web sites…etc. that more fully
explain how it’s done.

Also, given that the ancients were [supposedly] low-tech, is
there an economical way of " powdering" metal. Or can gold,
silver, sterling, etc. be bought in this form?

Also, given that the ancients were [supposedly] low-tech, is
there an economical way of " powdering" metal. Or can gold,
silver, sterling, etc. be bought in this form?

Precious Metal Clay Rio Grande is the US distributor for this
Mitsubichi product- currently they carry fine silver and fine gold
versions. Gary Dawson wrote an article about it and sent me the
text- I will email him and see if I can post it- he may or may
not have rights. You can precipitate metals out of solutions-
this would give you the most finely divided form of metal after
you washed the precipitate.

Sintered metal is a different process- and one I am not familiar
with. That is the process udes to make things like bronze
bearings that are self-lubricating.

Rick Hamilton
Richard D. Hamilton, Jr
http://www.rick-hamilton.com
@rick_hamilton