Materials Chemistry and Physics, Vol.67, No.1-3, 66-71, 2001
Study of sinterability of bronze and phosphorus bronze steels
The sinterability of different alloyed steels was studied by dilatometry at different temperatures. Iron and two amounts of graphite powders (0.3 and 0.7%) were used as raw materials for the base steels. Three levels (2, 5 and 8%) of bronze and phosphorus bronze (promoting Liquid phase) were employed as alloying additions. All the materials were compacted at 700 MPa. The sintering study by dilatometry was made in 95%N-2-5%H-2 atmosphere. Five different temperatures were: austenizing temperature, initial temperature of swelling, temperature of liquid phase forming, temperature at which maximum rate of deformation takes place, and initial temperature of shrinkage. With these temperatures, the optimum point of sinterability was determinated in each steel. Finally, all the materials were sintered at six different temperatures (910, 950, 990, 1030, 1070 and 1110 degreesC) in the same atmosphere to obtain the sinterability plots (sintering density vs. temperature).