Studies on the Influence of Sintering Parameters on the Hardness and Impact Energy of Some Sintered Steels Alloyed with Copper Powders

The paper presents experimental results regarding the evolution of hardness and impact energy of some sintered steels alloyed with 1.5% respective 3% (weight) copper powders. For the experimental research were used 3 mixtures: Fe+0.2C as reference, Fe+0.2C+1.5Cu, Fe+0.2C+3Cu. All the samples were die pressed at three pressures 400, 500 and 600 MPa and were subjected at three types of treatments as following: SINT, SINTCARB and CARBSINT. For the sintering treatments was used argon atmosphere and for carburizing process was used methane. After each treatment the hardness and impact energy for all the samples were measured and were made correlations between these properties and the type of treatment and copper content.