Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 440C–TiC Composite Steels Produced through Powder Metallurgy Processing

Abstract

This study sifted the commercial AISI 440C steel powders by using the matrix proposed previously with addition of TiC powder (25, 33 and 40 wt%) to produce a new composite steel with high hardness and strength after powder metallurgy, sintering and heat treatment. The mixing was done by ball milling, sintered at three different temperatures: 1473 K, 1573 K and 1673 K, and followed by a series of heat treatments. The experimental results showed the highest TRS value at 1502.6 MPa, and porosity was decreased to 0.18% after 440C steel was added with 25 wt% TiC powders by sintering at 1673 K. All of the specimens after sintering and conventional heat treatment did not show improvement on the hardness and TRS, instead showed decreases.