Lean Cr iron powders for obtaining high performance PM steel grades

Resumen:
Ecological and economic demands are driving PM markets to incorporate less expensive, yet effective, alloying elements in iron based powders. To investigate their potential for this purpose recently developed sinter-hardening iron powders containing Cr and smaller amounts of Mo and Ni were industrially sintered at 1120 and at 1240 degrees C under laboratory conditions. One set of samples, containing 0.8% graphite additions, was cooled so to obtain sinter-hardened steels. A second set of samples, containing 0.3% graphite, was cooled under normal conditions and subjected to a secondary carburising treatment. The microstructures and mechanical properties developed were compared.