Warm compaction of Al_2O_3 particulate reinforced powder metallurgy iron-base composite

Mechanical properties of the warm compacted alumina particulate reinforced powder metallurgy composite materials was compared with those of the materials obtained by conventional cold compaction. Factors affecting the properties of the warm compacted material such as compaction temperature, lubricant content and alumina content were studied. A 3%(mass fraction) alumina particulate reinforced iron-base composite with a green density of 7.0 g/cm 3 can be obtained by pressing the powder with a pressure of 700 MPa at 175 ℃. The sintered materials have a density of 6.88 g/cm 3, a tensile strength of 512 MPa and an elongation of 1.3%. Results show that as alumina content increases, density and mechanical properties of the composite decrease.