METHODS FOR THE COMBINED SINTERING AND SURFACE TREATMENT OF VARIABLE GEOMETRY TURBOCHARGER VANES

A method for fabricating a vane for a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) includes the steps of providing or obtaining a substrate metal in powdered form, mixing a binder with the powdered substrate metal to form a mixture, performing an injection molding process using the mixture to form a green substrate in the shape of the vane, debinding the green substrate to form a brown substrate in the shape of the vane having a porous structure, applying a surface treatment slurry to at least a portion of the brown substrate, and sintering the surface treated brown substrate to form the vane.