Plasma Sintering-Carburizing of 410 LHC Steel in Carbon Containing Atmosphere

Abstract:

First results of a possible alternative route for plasma assisted processing of 410 LHC steel powder compacts are shown in present work. Carburizing treatment was performed simultaneously with the sintering of samples. The main motivation of this study was verifying the possibility to eliminate the manufacturing step of the carburizing thermochemical treatment, which is normally applied in the production of sintered steel parts subjected for extreme wear conditions. Treatment was carried out in pulsed DC abnormal glow discharge, using gas mixture (atmosphere) of 99%(80% Ar + 20% H₂) + 1.0% CH₄, at 1100 °C, during 60 min, and 9 Torr, for two different conditions, termed: a) Sintering-Carburizing at high flow (for 480 sccm); and b) Sintering-Carburizing at low flow (for 120 sccm). Characterization of the treated samples was performed by Optical Microscopy, SEM, XRD, and microhardness measurements. The presence of CH₄ in the plasma atmosphere proved to be viable to carburize the sample surface while the sintering stage was carried out. Despite of this, further studies are required to optimize both the carburizing + sintering effects, aiming to produce non-brittle structures and parts, opening a new R&D field to the plasma sintering of metallic materials.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 802)
• Pages: 353-358
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.802.353
• Online since: December 2014
• Authors: Silvio Francisco Brunatto, Alisson Meier, Sérgio Henke, Cristiano Binder, Aloísio Nelmo Klein
• Keywords: 410 LHC Stainless Steel Powder, Plasma Sintering-Carburizing

References

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[2] A.N. Klein, R.P. Cardoso, H.C. Pavanati, C. Binder, A.M. Maliska, G. Hammes, D. Fusão, A. Seeber, S.F. Brunatto, J.L.R. Muzart: Plasma Science and Technology Vol. 15 (2013), p.1.

DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/15/1/12