HARDENING AND WEAR CHARACTERISTICS OF A NEW SINGLE PRESS SINGLE SINTER PM WITH EXCEPTIONAL IMPACT AND ELONGATION

摘要

A new powder metal (PM), copper infiltrated iron-phosphorous, was recently developed. The single press and single sinter PM material has exceptional impact and elongation properties while maintaining good strength. The material has potential for powertrain components that require high impact strength. Since many powertrain components require good wear surfaces, experiments were conducted to determine if the material could be hardened by conventional heat treatment processes. It was found that typical case depths and hardnesses can be achieved by carburizing, ferritic nitorcarburizing and carbonitriding heat treatments provided that the density and amount of copper infiltration is sufficient to seal open porosity. Wear testing of hardened surfaces was conducted with lubrication. Wear characteristics of the hardened material were comparable to that of hardened wrought steels.