Abstract
The influences of the particle shape and size of iron powders on the diffusion bonding of assembled iron-base green compacts during sintering were investigated. It has been clarified that the bonding strength is mainly influenced by the specific surface areas of iron powders. As reduced iron powders show larger specific surface areas and diffusibility of other elements such as carbon than atomized iron powders, the bonding strength of reduced iron powder specimens is higher than that of atomized iron powder specimens. The specific surface areas being influenced by the particle size, smaller size powders show higher bonding strength. Therefore, atomized iron powders which show the same specific surface areas as reduced powders show the same bonding strength.
