2018-11-01 Pressing & Sintering

Study on the effect of alloying elements on the hardenability of PM steels

The hardenability of steels is dependent on the type and amount of alloying elements present. Ni and Cu are commonly used in PM industry and can boost the hardenability of PM steels resulting in improved mechanical performance. In this study the effect of Cu or Ni additions on the hardenability of material grades pre-alloyed with Cr is investigated by generating and comparing the respective CCT diagrams. Results from mechanical testing from a previous study as well as metallographic investigation are used for getting a full picture regarding the hardenability of those steels. These results can be a useful tool for designing and controlling the heat treatment of PM steels.