Powder Metallurgy: Properties of Iron-Copper Powder Compacts

摘要

The mechanical properties of iron-copper powder compacts were found to be very little improved and in some cases impaired by an increase in copper content of from 5 to 40 per cent. It was found that improved ductility of 95% iron-5% copper alloys at moderate strength levels may be obtained by processing under carefully controlled conditions. Iron-copper compacts with good mechanical properties may be produced rapidly by sintering for very short periods of time at elevated temperatures. The properties of compacts sintered in this manner are comparable to the properties of compacts sintered for longer periods of time at lower temperature. The ductility of the subject compacts was found to be limited by porosity. Tensile strength, however, is not so dependent upon porosity. The tensile strength of iron-copper compacts was found to be limited by forming pressure when sintering is carried out for less than 60 minutes; when sintering time is increased beyond this time, the low-pressed bars exhibit strength values superior to those of higher-pressed bars. Compacts pressed at higher pressures reach maximum values of tensile strength after shorter sintering periods than do those pressed at lower pressures.