Abstract
The furnace atmospheres used in the manufacture of hard-metal from the pressed compact to the sintered component are discussed.
The very fine size (0·5–8·0 μm) of the powder particles makes the compacts particularly prone to react with furnace atmospheres. All these reactions affect the carbon content of the alloys, which must be controlled within extremely close limits to ensure good quality.
The removal of pressing lubricant, presintering, and final sintering all involve heating the components to temperatures at which reactions with the furnace atmosphere can occur. Both hydrogen and vacuum furnaces are used and care is required to maintain a quality of atmosphere that will not lead to a deleterious change in carbon content.
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