Abstract
In the manufacture of 13 Cr stainless steel powder by atomization using high velocity water jet, the influence of components in the melt upon particle shapes and properties was investigated. The results can be summarized as follows;
1) Increasing the silicon content in the melt reduces the amount of oxygen in the powder and leads to the powder of low apparent density. The optimum amount of silicon to be added is in the range of 0.5 to 0.7% by weight.
2) The oxygen content and apparent density of the powder increase with increasing manganese content, and, therefore, it is desirable that the amount of manganese is no more than 0.15%, for the containing 0.5-0.7% of silicon. The amount of silicon should be increased to the melt with a high manganese content.
3) The addition of carbon and nickel up to 0.15% and 0.5% respectively has little effect on the oxygen content and apparent density of the powder.
4) The high hardness of the as atomized powder leads to poor pressing properties, and so the powder atomized should be annealed before pressing.
