It's interesting to discover the astonishing range of uses HPI's can be put to.
High purity iron powders are of course used extensively in industrial additive manufacturing (3D printing) where demand is expected to rise significantly in coming years. High purity iron is predicted to account for a significant portion of the metal powder market.
But turns out that's just the beginning of an incredible range of new horizon high-tech uses.I found this discussion most illuminating:
Persistent Demand from End-Users and Manufacturers’ Focus on Quality Delivery
High purity iron (HPI) powder is highly sought after in an array of industries including metallurgy, food and beverage, food packaging, electronics and pharmaceuticals. Different grades of high purity iron (HPI) powder include 99.9, 99.99%, and 99.999%.
According to method of production iron powder is broadly classified into reduced iron powder, atomized iron powder and others. These different grades of iron powders find applications in metallurgy industry to manufacture high-density structural parts, magnetic alloys, food packaging, food ingredient, pharmaceutical industry, coated welding electrodes, and to remove sulfur impurity from gasified fuels.
Steady Demand for Soft Magnetic Materials to Bolster the Demand
In soft magnetic applications, high purity iron powder is specifically used in ignition system components, electric motor components, solenoids, and inductors. The automotive industry is undergoing rapid electrification. And demand for electrical operating systems and electric power devices has increased as they are indispensable components of EVs and hybrid electric vehicles (hEVs). Electromagnetic coils found in motors and transformers contain an iron core and a copper winding. Manufacturers are focusing on developing soft magnetic iron powder that can deliver higher AC magnetic qualities.
Preference for Fortified Foods Fueling HPI Powder Utilization
Iron deficiency is the most prevalent and widespread nutritional disorder and is the only nutrient deficiency that is significantly present in the industrialized countries. Food grade high purity iron powder approved by FCC has high bio-availability and is a primary ingredient in food fortification. As the global population is rising with the estimations to reach approximately 9.7 billion by 2050, food industry is evolving dramatically to accommodate the increasing demand. A novel application for high purity iron powder is found in animal feed industry whose growth remains under the influence of increased productivity yield and affordable animal protein demand. Valued at US$ 4.3 Mn in 2018, the global food grade iron is estimated to reach US$ 6.9 Mn by the end of 2026. On account of rising iron deficiency and availability of iron rich food varieties, demand for food grade high purity iron powder is set to rise in the future.
Increased Iron Supplement Prescriptions to Boost Demand in Pharma Industry
With the aim to address global health concern of iron deficiency, high purity iron powder are used in biotechnology as well as pharmaceutical industry for the preparation of iron salts as well as iron supplement drugs. Infant formulas and other nutritional supplement medicines are highly prescribed by medical professionals. These clinically approved medical products contain iron as one of the important ingredients. High purity iron powder is utilized to manufacture iron salts such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, ammonium ferrous citrate, iron pallets, iron gluconate, Ferric Chloride and more. In addition, rising government initiatives to address iron deficiency has increased iron supplement production by pharma companies where HPI powder is highly sought after.
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