Effect of charge fractional composition on high-speed steel powder sintering

The fractional composition of gas-atomized high-speed steel R6M5K5 is studied for its effect on the main features of activated sintering of compacts. A mixture consisting of nickel powder and 30% (wt.) boron is used as an activating addition. It is established that a reduction in average particle size increases shrinkage after sintering, but the dependence of compact shrinkage on fractional composition is different for monodispersed and polydispersed compositions. The maximum size of powder particles for polydispersed compositions has little effect on shrinkage, whereas in the case of monodispersed mixtures there is a marked increase in compact density after sintering with a reduction in particle size. There is a marked increase in density providing closed porosity (90–93%) with a sintering temperature of 1200C, whereas in order to achieve a similar density in the mixture without activator the sintering temperature should be at least 1230C.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 10, pp. 15–20, October, 1992.