Delubrication of PM Components Based on Cr-Prealloyed Steel Powder – Chances and Risks

Paper in proceeding, 2011

Utilization of prealloyed powder grades for production of high-performance PM structural parts require reconsidering of specific stages of sintering process like debinding. Modern lubricants are complex organic compounds, decompositions of which leads to production of a number of species – from complex hydrocarbons to carbon oxides. Composition and amount of decomposition products are strongly determined by the temperature profile and processing atmosphere composition/purity. Uncontrolled delubrication process, especially in the case of the PM components containing elements with high-sensitivity to oxygen, can lead to considerable oxidation. Therefore, in-situ monitoring of the processing parameters during delubrication is presented utilizing commonly used in industry sensors (dew-point, CO2 and O2). Delubrication was monitored in a number of inert and reducing gases of the different purity. Based on the specimens analysis and gas monitoring profiles it is recommended to perform delubrication at the temperatures below 500°C in dry inert atmospheres in the case of ethylenbisstearamide-based lubricants.