The effect of boron on mechanical behavior and microstructure for Fe–Cr matrix alloy prepared by P/M

•The Fe–Cr–B alloyed powder is successfully prepared by sintering method.•The boron is an effective strengthened element for Fe matrix alloys.•The Fe–Cr–B alloys are composed of Fe, FeCr and Fe2B phases.•The hardness of FCB7 is 14.86 GPa.•The specimen containing 7 wt.% boron shows the best properties. Bulks of Fe–Cr–B alloys were prepared by using powder metallurgy technology route (P/M), and the microstructure and mechanical properties of iron matrix alloys were investigated in detail. The boron was an effective strengthened element to reinforce mechanical properties of alloys. The Fe–Cr–B alloys were composed of Fe, FeCr and Fe2B phases. Fe phase was rounded by alloy phases in the matrix. The Fe–Cr matrix alloys transferred from the ductile material to the brittle material with the increase of boron content, which showed high hardness in comparison with that of Fe–Cr alloy due to the formation of intermetallic compounds. The specimen containing 7wt.% boron showed the best properties. The fracture mode of alloys transferred from transgranular cleavage fracture to the intergranular cleavage fracture.