Compacting of gas atomized metal powder to a part

A process for making full dense components with a density of more than 98%, of the theoretical density of a material selected from the group consisting of a carbon-containing steel and a carbon containing alloy, said process comprising the steps of:

• a) making a powder of the carbon-containing steel by gas atomization, wherein the carbon content is less than 0.15 wt %,
• b) agglomerating the powder from step a) with at least one hydrocolloid, wherein carbon in elemental form is added in the form of a colloid of insoluble particles comprising carbon suspended throughout a liquid, during the agglomeration,
• c) compacting the agglomerated powder from step b) in a first compacting step to a density of at least 80% of theoretical density, with the proviso that the compacted agglomerated powder still is porous allowing transport of gas to and from its interior,
• d) further compacting the compacted agglomerated powder from step c) to a density of more than 98% of theoretical density using at least sintering followed by HVC (high velocity compacting) with a ram speed exceeding 5 m/s, wherein a gas comprising carbon is added during sintering.