Microstructure analysis of microwave sintered ferrous PM alloys

The properties and microstructure of microwave and conventional sintered Fe-2Cu-0.6C powder metallurgy (PM) alloys were investigated. The experimental results show that microwave sintered alloy has the better properties (sintered density 7.20 g/cm3, Rockwell hardness 75 HRB, tensile strength 413.90 MPa and elongation 6.0%), compared with the conventional sintered counterpart. Detailed analyses by using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal that microwave sintered sample has finer microstructure with small, rounded and uniformly distributed pores, and also demonstrate the presence of more flaky and granular pearlite in the microwave sintered body, both of which account for the property improvement. SEM images on the fracture morphology indicate that a mixed mode containing ductile and brittle fracture is presented in microwave sintered alloy, in contrast with the brittle fracture in conventional sintered counterpart.