Low-Alloy Powder Trip-Steels

The structure and properties of low-alloy austenitic steels prepared by hot compaction are studied. It is shown that concentration inhomogeneity is not always a reason for reduced mechanical properties. A high level of structural strength and dimensional accuracy may be achieved for powder steels with a structure of metastable austenite. An improvement in the main properties of concentration-inhomogeneous trip-steels is caused by phase transformations on fracture surfaces under load. Use of iron powder with the minimum concentration of associated impurities makes it possible to realize to a considerable extent the potential of concentration-inhomogeneous trip-steels.