Effect of composition and porosity on the hardenability and hardness penetration of structural powder steels

Conclusions The effect of porosity ( > 10%) on the hardenability of the powder steels is stronger than the effect of carbon content. The role of these factors changes with the reduction of porosity ( < 10%) and the carbon content exerts a stronger effect on the hardenability of the steel. After hot pressing, the hardenability of the powder steels approaches the hard-enability of the dense steels of a similar chemical composition.The hardenability of the alloy powder steels at a constant carbon content and porosity is independent of the degree of alloying of the steel.The strength of the effect of complex alloying on the hardness penetration of the powder steels increases with decreasing porosity, especially after hot pressing and annealing as a result of the more efficient homogenizing of the structure with respect to carbon and alloying elements.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 1(277), pp. 82–86, January, 1986.