ES463769A1 - Process for manufacturing iron based powder - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for the manufacture of iron-based powder for the manufacture by powder metallurgy of precision components having satisfactory size accuracy and high mechanical strength, characterized in that a mixture of iron powder having a maximum particle size which is less than 350 microns and 1-20% copper powder or reducible copper compounds having a maximum particle size of less than 175 microns, due to the fact that the mixture is subjected to an annealing treatment in reducing atmosphere at a temperature comprised between 700ºC and 950ºC for a period of 15 minutes to 10 hours, preferably 0.5-5 hours, by the fact that the cake thus obtained is milled to form a powder having a maximum size of particle smaller than 350 microns and by the fact that the annealing is carried out under such conditions with respect to time and temperature that the compressibility of the powder annealed according to or with astm b 331-64 is a maximum 0.15 g/cm3 lower than the compressibility of the corresponding mixture of iron and copper powder, and the fact that the total oxygen content does not exceed 1.2 %, and by the fact that the copper alloyed iron powder thus obtained is mixed with pure iron powder in an amount such that the mixture has the desired copper content, 0-2% graphite, 0-2% of a solid lubricant in powder form and, if desired, 0-5% ni, 0-2% mo, 0-1.5% p, separately or in combination. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)