Sintered Structural Low Alloyed Steels Particulate Reinforced by High Speed Steel

Summary

In order to obtain sintered steels with increased mechanical properties for structural applications it was used the possibility of their particulate reinforcing by high alloyed hard phase. Practically, this was realized by the base iron powder admixing with an optimum amount of high speed steel powder. Also, certain amounts of Ni and graphite powders have been added to obtain a low alloyed steel matrix, with increased impact strength. The influence of these alloying elements - determining the matrix microstructure and properties - on the general mechanical properties of the as obtained sintered steels, have been investigated. Moreover, its behavior at sinter-hardening have been also followed. It was established that a good bonding between the high alloy hard phase and the softer matrix has been realized, leading to a notable reinforcing effect, proved by the increased mechanical properties of such structural steels, having in the same time a low cost and being processable by the common cold compaction-sintering.