P/M enables the economical production of components for many kinds of gears. Functionally, the sub gear requires high tooth accuracy and bending fatigue strength. The whole tooth profile was sized after sintering to satisfy the gear tooth accuracy specification. The part was redesigned to reduce machining requirements. The required bending fatigue strength was achieved through appropriate material choice and induction of compressive residual stress by shotpeening after carburizing. The P/M sub gear replaced a forged steel gear, satisfied performance requirements, expanded the use of P/M applications and provided over 30% cost reduction.

Conventional high-speed steels, which are carbide decentralized materials, are used for sliding parts, but they lack sufficient hardness for some applications. Improvement of surface hardness is possible for high-Cr steels through nitriding. However, nitriding P/M parts is not advisable without sealing the porosity before treatment, as they will become brittle. However, it is difficult to seal the pores with steam treatment, because high-Cr steel has a passive film on the surface. Controlling nitriding by decreasing the amount of oxygen on the surface to be nitrided, and grinding to decrease the porosity of the surface, makes it possible to produce a material that has reasonable and sufficient hardness in the required areas.