Powder Metallurgy (PM) is the branch of metallurgy, which relates to the manufacture of metallic powders, or of articles made of such powders by forming and sintering.

It includes cases where starting from a powder is the only possible way to produce an article, as in the case of hardmetals (cemented carbides), and those where the PM route is preferred to more conventional metallurgical methods such as casting, forging or machining wrought metals. The powder metallurgy market is dominated, on the one hand, by hardmetals used for their very high wear resistance and, on the other hand, by iron- or copper-based sintered components.

As the technical development in the field of powder metallurgy is very fast and new processes and materials are introduced almost every year, it is of utmost importance that standardised test methods exist, especially for the characterisation and specification of metal powders, and that the terminology remains clear and up-to-date. The continuous appraisal and revision of international PM standards contribute to the consistency of existing standards and their application in the industry.

In parallel, standards are being developed to reflect important trends in the sector, e.g. those related to the dramatic expansion of the additive manufacturing (AM) industry.

The main normative developments in this area are supported by the following technical committees; detailed information on each of these standardisation bodies can be obtained by following the links provided.