Effect of Small Cold-Reductions on Mechanical Properties of Sintered Steels

Abstract

The mechanical properties, particularly strength and toughness, of sintered steels are improved considerably by surface densifying treatments consisting of small reduction extrusion and rolling and subsequent full annealing. It has been found that a reduction of about 11% is most effective for extrusion and a reduction of about 0·2 mm, by a small reduction per pass with a small diameter roll, is most effective for rolling. The toughening mechanism may be ascribed mainly to an appropriate density gradient which is given by the small cold-reduction in forming. Also the collapsed pores in the surface layers are reduced in size and spheroidized, and the interparticle bonding is increased by the subsequent full annealing.