Abstract
Pressing and sintering of SUS. 316L stainless steel powders were studied under various size distribution and amount of surface oxidation.
The results were summarized as follows:
1) Compressibility was higher with mixtures of about 40/60 coarse/-325 mesh powders (permitting some difference in compacting pressure), mainly because of change in shape with particle size.
2) When vacuum-sintered at temperature above 1200°C, -325 mesh size distribution gave maximum sintered density. In other words, the sintering rate was controlled by mixing ratio of fine powders to coarse powders.
3) Oxide layer of stainles steel powder gave poor compressibility, and also-less densification because of delaying effect on mass transport during sintering.
4) Residual oxide layer (inclusion) affected pore-morphology in sintered materials. Therefore, the mecha-nical properties were appreciably deteriorated under higher sintered density with oxygen-content over 0.3 pct.
