Microwave Sintering Effect on Mechanical Properties of Iron Alloys

摘要

Iron powder is mixed by 2, 3, 4 wt. % of gas atomized copper or bronze (Cu-Sn) alloy with 1 wt. % lubricant. Each mixture was compacted at 600 MPa to form Transverse Rupture Strength samples in order to sinter in microwave or electrically heating tube furnace. Half of the samples were sintered at 1150°C for 30 minutes under 90% N_2 - 10% H_2 atmosphere by using microwave source of maximum 1000 W in assistance of SiC sucpector. The other half were sintered using electrically heating tube furnace. The emissivity value was chosen as 0.55 and temperature corrections were done by observation of melting points of silver and copper pieces on the reference sample during sintering. The pore structure of sintered samples were observed by light microscope. Porosity level of sintered samples were measured by mercury porosimeter and Transverse Rupture Strength (TRS) values were measured using three point bending apparatus according to ASTM B528.