Spherical porous iron powder and method for producing the same

Abstract

The invention concerns an iron powder characterised by spherical form and a porous structure throughout. The powder particles have an average particle diameter between 10 and 300 μm, a specific surface area of at least 100 m2/kg, a flowability of at least 35 s/50 g, a reactivity of less than 5 minutes and an apparent density lower than about 4 g/cm3. The iron powder is prepared by subjecting a dry powder of essentially spherical iron-containing agglomerates to a heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature and time sufficient for obtaining particles essentially consisting of metallic iron and having a porous structure throughout. The obtained particles may then be subjected to sintering at a time and temperature sufficient for obtaining the required strength.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.