A novel method of sintering hybrid steels in an improved semiclosed container system

Conventional sintering techniques for structural steels have been developed principally for Cu and Ni containing alloys. Applying these to Cr and Mn steels (successful products of traditional metallurgy) encounter the problem of the high affinity for oxygen of these elements. A solution is employing a microatmosphere in a semiclosed container which favours reduction reactions. This has already proved successful on a laboratory scale, especially with nitrogen as the furnace gas. Further modifications to the system, now described, include the use of two sintering boxes, one inside the other. Superior mechanical properties, even using air as the furnace gas, are attainable.