Effect of Fe-Cr-B on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Powder Injection Molding Processed Fe-Cr-B/316L Stainless Steel Matrix Composite

Abstract

Stainless steel-based composites (SMCs) mixed with 316L stainless steel powder and Fe-Cr-B based M alloys powder ed M) powder were manufactured using the powder injection molding (PIM) process, and their microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. To examine the effect of M content on the properties of SMCs, the M fraction was controlled to 30 vol.%, 50 vol.%, and 70 vol.%. It was observed that PIM-processed Fe-Cr-B/316L SMCs (30 vol.%, 50 vol.%, 70 vol.%) had γ-austenite and minor α-ferrite as a matrix, and (Cr, Fe)<sub>2</sub>B was formed as a reinforced phase. In tensile tests at room temperature, the yield strengths of the 30 vol.%, 50 vol.%, 70 vol.% M SMCs were measured to be 519.9 MPa, 574.1 MPa, and 604.8 MPa (peak stress), respectively. From the fracture surface observation results, it was found that the deformation behavior changed from the intergranular fracture of boride to intergranular fracture between the matrix and boride, as the M fraction increased. Based on the above results, the deformation and fracture mechanisms of novel Fe-Cr-B/316L SMCs are also discussed.