Properties of Prealloyed Steel Powder Metallurgy Products.

The applicability of conventional powder metallurgy fabrication procedures to prealloyed steel powders was investigated. Fifteen lots of steel powder, representing six different major alloy types 4130, 1040, 8620, 4650, 8650, and 9450, have been formed into test bars by conventional fabrication procedures. The three procedures employed are die press, isostatic press, and high-energy rate forming HERF. The die press and the isostatic press procedures were followed by repress and forge operations. Samples were heat-treated, with a final 900F temper usually employed. Samples produced by forging and HERF processing, the two methods capable of producing densities close to theoretical densities, have tensile strengths equal to those of wrought material, though ductilities and impact strengths are inferior. Data compilations containing density, hardness, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and Charpy V-notch impact energy as functions of fabrication sequence are presented. Author