Microstructure and Properties of Powder-Forged Steel

Sintered and forged powder metallurgy (P/M) steels were subjected to tensile, hardness and impact test, in order to understand the influence of the microstructure on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior. Ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, reduction in area, hardness and impact toughness all increase with a decrease in porosity. With the increase of density, the mode of fracture change from pure ductile in sintered necks of the material to complete brittle from fully dense pearlitic grains.