Abstract
The effect of cooling rate from the sintering temperature upon the tensile strength of compacts from a mixture of iron and copper powder was investigated. The compacts were pressed at 450 and 390 MPa and sintered in hydrogen at 1120°C for 40 min. The copper content of the compacts varied from 0 to 12%. For alloys with Cu content >4% the tensile strength was found to be strongly dependent upon the cooling rate in the temperature range between 850 and 600°C, with rapidly cooled specimens being considerably stronger. In specimens with 8%Cu the tensile strength increased from 206 to 343 MPa when the cooling rate was increased from 10 to 200 degC min−1. In specimens with 2%Cu cooling rates above and below 600 degC min−1 appear to influence the tensile strength. Possible explanations for the observed effects of cooling rate upon tensile strength in sintered Fe–Cu alloys are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.