Abstract
The electrical resistivity of compacts of commercial iron powders during sintering process was measured, and the influences of green density, sintered density and sintering atmosphere, as well as those of reduction and oxidation treatments of powders, were investigated and discussed.
The main results are as follows;
(1) The resistivity of compacts decreases remarkably during heating from room temperature to 350°C, and increases gradually between 350 and 800°C, and then decreases slightly or is kept constant between 800 and 1000°C.
(2) The change in resistivity during sintering above about 350°C can be qualitatively explained in considering on the effect of neck growth between particles.
(3) The temperature at which the resistivity becomes minimum rises as the thickness of oxide films on the particles increases.
