Properties of High Density Powder Forged Iron Based Alloy

Abstract

The various powder forging processes for the fabrication of steel parts and variables such as sintering temperature, time, initial density, and preform design have been studied and compared with the sintering process. The green density may reach 6·78 Mg m⁻³ at a compaction pressure of 490 MPa. Using an Fe–2Ni–2Cu-0·5C admixed powder at the highest compaction pressure tested, the hardness of forged parts may reach 95 HRB, much greater than that typically achieved in sintered parts (65 HRB). At a working temperature of above 1073K and compaction pressure of 490 MPa, tensile strengths of powder forged products of >600 MN m⁻² are reached, which is almost twice that of the sintered products. Overall results seem to indicate the optimum working conditions for processing by powder forging are 1273 K and 490 MPa for forging temperature and compaction pressure, respectively. PM/0602