Copper and bronze influence on sintered austenitic stainless steels properties

Abstract

The effect that, on AISI 316L and 304L stainless steels alloyed with copper and bronze in different percentages up to a maximun of 20 % wt, produce both the alloying content and the sintering temperature over physical and mechanical properties and over the microstructure of sintered stainless steels are studied. Alloying with copper and bronze improves the density of sintered steels at the two sintering temperatures used. Copper and bronze promote liquid phase sintering (transitory or permanent), that activates sintering process. Tensile strength of stainless steel is highly improved for higher alloying contents. Moreover, tensile strength presents greater values alloying with bronze than with copper.