Processing and Characterization of Fe-Mn-Cu-Sn-C Alloys Prepared by Ball Milling and Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

In this work, Fe-Mn-Cu-Sn-C alloys were prepared by means of powder metallurgy (PM). Powder mixtures were ball-milled for 8, 30 and 120 h and densified to < 1% porosity using spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 900°C and 35 MPa. After consolidation, all samples of the Fe alloys were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hardness and flexural strength tests. Resistance to abrasive wear was evaluated in both three-body abrasion and two-body abrasion tests. The SEM observations revealed an evident dependence of grain size and microstructural homogeneity on milling time. The XRD analysis showed a marked increase in austenite content in the as-sintered specimens with milling time. Although the proportion of deformation-induced martensite was small, the strengthening effect of abrasion on the subsurface layer of the investigated alloys was clearly indicated by Knoop hardness measurements.

Improvement in Hardness and Wear Behaviour of Iron-Based Mn–Cu–Sn Matrix for Sintered Diamond Tools by Dispersion Strengthening

“…Previous studies clearly indicate that reinforcing the metal matrix with dispersed ceramic particles could improve the quality and efficiency of metallic-diamond tools. Our previous work [ 15 , 16 ] confirmed that inexpensive Fe–Mn–Cu–Sn–C material can be a promising alternative to expensive Co-20% WC alloys in some sintered diamond tools. The Fe–Mn–Cu–Sn–C composites obtained by SPS (at 900 °C/35 MPa) had a hardness of 319 ± 32 HV1, high bending strength (σTRS > 1200 MPa) and bending yield strength (σ0.2 > 1000 MPa), and significantly better wear resistance than other commercial composites due to Feγ twinning and the martensitic transformation induced by plastic deformation in the sub-layer as a result of abrasion, which increases hardness and strength.…”

“…Spongy iron, ground ferromanganese, and water-atomized tin-bronze powders were provided by Höganäs AB, Höganäs, Sweden, ESAB, Katowice, Poland and Neochimie, Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, France, respectively. The powder mixture contained 12 wt.% Mn, 6.4 wt.% Cu, 1.6 wt.% Sn, and 0.6 wt.% C and was prepared as described in [ 15 , 16 ]. The powders SiC (F320 series, Washington Mills Electro Minerals, Manchester, England, UK), Al 2 O 3 (EF-320 series, Stanchem Sp.zoo, Niemce, Poland), and ZrO 2 (Yttria-stabilized Zirconia Powder (3-YSZ) GRADE 16, HC Starck, Goslar, Germany) were used as ceramic phases to modify the material.…”

Effect of Nb Content on Microstructure and Properties of Fe–20Mn Alloy Prepared by Ball Milling and Spark Plasma Sintering

“…Spark plasma sintering(SPS), as a new sintering technology of powder metallurgy, has the advantages of uniform heating, fast heating, low sintering temperature, short sintering time and easy microstructure control, which can be used to prepare high performance nanocrystalline or ultrafine metal materials 26,27 . High density Fe-Mn alloys were prepared by ball milling and SPS 28 . The nanocrystalline Fe-Mn alloy was prepared by SPS technique with a yield strength of 1428 MPa in compression test 29,30 .…”

Properties of WCCo Composites Produced by the SPS Method Intended for Cutting Tools for Machining of Wood-Based Materials

“…Among these methods, the SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering) method is the most widespread. This technology allows for the obtaining of a wide range of materials [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”