Microstructure and mechanical properties of nonmagnetic Fe-25Mn-xCu-C steels by super solidus liquid phase sintering

Abstract

In this work, nonmagnetic steels Fe-25Mn-xCu-C were prepared by high manganese pre-alloyed steel powders through powder metallurgy (PM) technique. Four types of steels specimen were created to investigate the microstructure evolving with sintering process, mechanical properties and magnetic properties. The microstructures, fracture surfaces, phase constitutions and mechanical properties of Fe-25Mn-xCu-C were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile strength test. The results showed that super solidus liquid-phase sintering (SLPS) phenomenon was conclusively verified, for the first time, in the Fe-Mn pre-alloyed powders: Liquids generated by SLPS process from pre-alloyed powders could improve the binding condition between the particles and enhance the densification. X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiment and physical property measurement system (PPMS) measurement verified the nonmagnetic properties of steels with single austenite phase. It is confirmed that mechanical properties are intensively influenced by the characteristic and quantity of liquids between the matrix particles. The fracture mechanism of the steel is dominated by intergranular decohesion mode. The preliminary study found this kind of new non-magnetic steel exhibits relatively high density. With the efficiency in fabricating and the non-magnetic property, this work foresees good prospects for application in the steel components manufacturing industry.