Leaner alloys for the PM industry

Numerous lean alloy systems are now available to the PM parts manufacturer as potential lower cost solutions without sacrificing part performance. More recently, steels containing 0.3 and 0.5% prealloyed molybdenum have been introduced which can be tailored with reduced Ni and/or Cu additions to meet specific properties for use in press and sinter applications or as quench and temper grades. These reduced Mo prealloys complement the already familiar 0.85 and 1.5% Mo grades to provide a full range of prealloyed molybdenum steels. Another method to reduce susceptibility to market pricing has been through incorporating manganese, which is historically inexpensive yet highly beneficial to steel properties. Combining Mn with moderate levels of Mo in specially designed alloy grades provides a lean alternative to Ni and Cu containing hybrid alloy steels. This study will examine these lean alloys and explore where there may be opportunity to use them in place of traditional PM grades.