Process for the manufacture of sintered products

A process for the manufacture of sintered products, comprising the steps of:

• mixing 80-90 wt % of a sinterable powder material, 10-20 wt % of a liquid carrier and 0.1-0.6 wt % a gelling agent to form a mix, said gelling agent having a gelling temperature below which said mix is a rigid gel with a strength of at least 200 g/cm2 and a sol temperature above which said mix is fluid;
• introducing said mix into a forming mould having a filter having openings smaller than 50 μm, the filter being suitable for being crossed by said liquid carrier and trapping said sinterable powder material;
• heating the forming mould at a temperature higher than said gelling temperature;
• applying a pressure greater than 2 MPa in said forming mould, heated, with said mix which has at least a temperature higher than said gelling temperature and is fluid, said step of applying the pressure being suitable for allowing said liquid carrier to come out at least partially from said forming mould through said filter;
• lowering the temperature of said mix in said forming mould below said gelling temperature to obtain a rigid semi-finished product;
• and
• sintering said rigid semi-finished product to obtain said sintered product.