Abstract
Pure iron and Fe-0.6mass%P alloy were sintered at various temperatures from 1273K to 1623K. Magnetic properties, i,e., magnetic induction at 800 A/m (B8), maximum permeability (μm) and coresive force (Hc) of these alloys were measured using Cioffi type fluxmeter. Then the microstructures of those alloys were investigated using an optical microscope and an EMPA. Sintered density and the magnetic properties of the pure iron are almost constant in the sintering temperature range.
On the contrary, those of Fe-0.6mass%P are improved highly with elevating sintering temperature and shows B8=1.35T, μm=8mH/m and Hc=96AT/m at the sintering temperature 1623K. In the Fe-0.6mass%P sintered alloy, P atoms diffuse into the pure iron with an increase in sintering temperature, resulting in forming of the α phase. This densificates the alloy by α phase sintering and then changes pore shape from irregular to spherical. The magnetic properties of Fe-0.6mass%P sintered alloy are improved by mainly densification with spheroidization of the pores.
