Iron-based metallurgical compositions containing flow agents and methods for using same
AssigneeHoeganaes Corporation
InventorSydney Luk
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Abstract
The present invention provides for iron-based metallurgical powder compositions that contain nanoparticle metal or metal oxide flow agents useful for enhancing the flow characteristics of the compositions, particularly at elevated processing temperatures. The iron-based powder compositions can be advantageously blended with a flow agent such as a silicon oxide or iron oxide, or a combination of both, to provide a powder composition having improved flow properties and ejection release characteristics.
Claims53
An improved metallurgical powder composition comprising:
- (a) at least about 85 percent by weight of an iron-based metal powder;
- and
- (b) from about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight of particulate silicon oxide having an average particle size below about 40 nanometers.
An improved metallurgical powder composition comprising:
- (a) at least about 85 percent by weight of an iron-based metal powder;
- and
- (b) from about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight of a metal or metal oxide powder having an average particle size below about 500 nanometers.
A method of making a compacted powder metallurgical part, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a metallurgical powder composition comprising at least about 90 percent by weight of an iron-based metal powder, and from about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight of a metal or metal oxide powder having an average particle size below about 500 nanometers;
- and
- (b) compacting the metallurgical powder composition in a die at a pressure of about 5-200 tons per square inch to form said part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.