Abstract
The powder of amorphous Fe-16Cr-8Mo-18C-4Si alloy having the size below 25μm has been produced by the ultrasonic helium atomization. A fully dense material with finely and homogeneously mixed structure of α+M7C3+M6C phases can be obtained by hot pressing the amorphous powder at temperatures of 1300 to 1950K. The packing fraction of the hot pressed alloy is about 100%, and the particle size and the interparticle distance of the carbides are as small as 0.6-1.0μm and 1.2-1.9μm, respectively. The hot pressed alloy has high hardness, e.g., 965 DPN at room temperature and 400 DPN at 1073K, as well as good wear resistance which is comparable to the highest value of commercial wear resistant high alloy steel. Since the alloy produced by hot pressing the amorphous high carbon-high alloy steel powder shows high hardness and good wear resistance at temperatures of room temperature to 1073K, it is expected to practically use as a heat-resistant tool material.
