Powdered metal component

A powder metallurgical component, comprising:

• a chromium content of at least 80% by weight;
• at least one of pores or oxide inclusions present in the component;
• and
• a sum of said pores and said oxide inclusions at a cut surface through the component in at least one region amounting to a number per unit area of at least 10,000 per mm2.

A process for producing a powder metallurgical component having a chromium content of at least 80% by weight, at least one of pores or oxide inclusions present in the component, and a sum of the pores and the oxide inclusions at a cut surface through the component in at least one region amounting to a number per unit area of at least 10,000 per mm2, the process comprising the following steps:

• (i) providing a powder batch including chromium and optionally other metals, the chromium having a content of at least 80% by weight, based on a total metal content, and the powder batch including powder having a BET surface area of ≧0.05 m2/g;
• (ii) pressing the powder batch to form a compact;
• (iv) sintering the compact at from 1100 to 1500° C.;
• (v) oxidizing the sintered component in a presence of an oxygen source;
• and
• (vi) removing the oxide layer from the surface.

An interconnector for an electrochemical cell, the interconnector comprising:

• a) at least one region having a chromium content of at least 80% by weight, said region having at least one of pores or oxide inclusions, and said region having a density of between 70% and 95% of a theoretical density;
• b) a total oxygen content in said region of <20,000 μg per 1 g;
• and
• c) a gas permeability in said region of <10 ml/min at a test pressure of 2.75 bar and a temperature of 20° C.