Hollow Sphere Structures

Metallic hollow spheres and hollow sphere structures are produced in a powder metallurgical process. These procedure routes allow producing hollow spheres and hollow sphere structures out of virtually all sintering metals and alloys.

Following materials were used until now:

• low alloyed steel
• stainless steels (e.g. 1.4404, 1.4841, 1.4767)
• nickel and nickel alloys
• intermetallics
• molybdenum
• tungsten
• precious metals

Hollow sphere structures combine the advantages of metallic materials such as good heat conductivity, high strength and high oxidation resistance with the advantages of lower specific density and high specific mechanical strength.


Possible applications of the structures are, for example, in the following fields

• acoustics (acoustical absorption)

• heat protection

• absorption of mechanical energy (crash absorber)

• turbine manufacturing (abrasive seals)

• lightweight construction.

The use of milled single hollow spheres is conceivable

• in quickly responding ball valves
• in special fast moving ball bearings
• linear guides.