Abstract
Contamination of low-alloy steel powder intended for powder-forging purposes occasionally occurs by virtue of processing through plant normally producing plain iron sintering powders. This paper shows that the effects of moderate amounts of plain iron-powder contamination on the tensile properties of a through-hardened low-alloy steel powder are not significant, provided that the carbon content is maintained at the design level. The results also show that the fatigue endurance limit is lowered although the ratio of fatigue endurance to elastic limit remains constant. In carburizing-grade material, however, there is a significant reduction in the tensile and fatigue strength attainable; and the presence of ‘soft spots’ may have a deleterious effect upon the performance of case-hardened components
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