Internal combustion engine tappet comprising a sintered powdered metal wear resistant composition

An internal combustion engine tappet comprising a sintered powdered metal heat treated wear resistant composition having a matrix formed from iron powder, carbon in the range of 0.50-1.0% by weight, and a ferroalloy powder with a mesh size of +50-325 acting as a nucleus for diffusion of the alloying metal into the surrounding iron particles, the alloying metal in the composition being in the range of 1-10% by weight and being selected from the group consisting of chromium, titanium, boron, vanadium, columbium, molybdenum, tantalum and tungsten, the iron, carbon and ferroalloy being briquetted at a pressure of 40-60 tons/sq.in. and sintered, in solid phase, at a temperature of 2000.degree.-2100.degree. F. in a reducing atmosphere including the combination of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the range of 55-80%, the resulting product being heterogeneous and having hard ferroalloy nuclei and interconnected porosity with a density at the wear surface of approximately 6.8-7.0 gm/cc.