Effect of Alloying Type and Lean Sintering Atmosphere on the Performance of PM Components
Journal article, 2017

In order to be cost effective and to meet increasing performance demands, powder metallurgy steel components require continuous improvement in terms of materials and process development. This study demonstrates the feasibility of manufacturing structural components using two different alloys systems, i.e. lean Cr-prealloyed and diffusion bonded water atomised powders with different processing conditions. The components were sintered at two different temperatures, i.e. 1120 and 1250 °C for 30 minutes in three different atmospheres: vacuum, N2-10%H2 atmosphere as well as lean N2-5%H2-0.5%CO-(0.1-0.4)%CH4 sintering atmosphere. Components after sintering were further processed by either low pressure carburizing, sinterhardening or case hardening. All trails were performed in the industrial furnaces to simulate the actual production of the components. Microstructure, fractography, apparent and micro hardness analyses were performed close to the surface and in the middle of the sample to characterize the degree of sintering (temperature and atmosphere) and the effect of heat treatment. In all cases, components possess mostly martensitic microstructure with a few bainitic regions. The fracture surface shows well developed sinter necks. Inter- and trans-granular ductile and cleavage fracture modes are dominant and their fraction is determined by alloy and processing route

case hardening

low pressure carburizing

sinterhardening

lean sintering atmospheres

lean alloyed PM steels

Author

Maheswaran Vattur Sundaram

Materials and manufacture

Ruslan Shvab

Materials and manufacture

Sten Millot

FJ Sintermetal AB

Eduard Hryha

Materials and manufacture

Lars Nyborg

Industrial and Materials Science

Powder Metallurgy Progress

1339-4533 (ISSN)

Vol. 17 2 72-81

Innovative components manufacturing technology through powder technology (Stage 2)

VINNOVA (2014-00795), 2014-05-15 -- 2016-08-25.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Production

Materials Science

Subject Categories

Manufacturing, Surface and Joining Technology

Other Materials Engineering

Metallurgy and Metallic Materials

DOI

10.1515/pmp-2017-0008

More information

Latest update

4/7/2021 2