Influences of alloy elements in infiltrant on mechanical properties of copper-alloy infiltrated P/M high speed steels

Mechanical properties of Cu alloy infiltrated M42 and T42 P/M high speed steels were studied. The green compacts were sintered in vacuum at 1433, 1443 or 1453K to make skeletons. The skeletons were infiltrated with Cu--Cr, Cu--Co and Cu--Fe--Mn alloy infiltrants in H or Ar at 1423K for 1.8 ks. All the infiltrated specimens shrank. The Cu--Fe--Mn infiltrated M42 and T42 P/M high speed steels showed the least amount of dimensional change during infiltration. The Cu--Fe--Mn infiltrated M42 and T42 P/M steels had comparatively high hardness, but low strength. Cu--Cr or Cu--Co infiltrated P/M high speed steels showed high strength. The P/M M42 steel having a skeleton sintered at 1453K in vacuum and infiltrated with the Cu--Co alloy in hydrogen had 2450 MPa transverse rupture strength and HRC 48 hardness as infiltrated. Graphs, Spectra. 12 ref.--AA