Standard Guide for Steam Treatment of Ferrous Powder Metallurgy (PM) Materials

Importancia y uso:

5.1 The performance and quality of steam-treated materials depends upon the surface cleanliness of the material prior to steam treatment and the adequacy of the processing. Steam treatment can be used as a decorative coating, producing a blue-gray to a blue-black appearance. It can reduce the susceptibility of ferrous PM materials to further oxidation and corrosion, thus providing better shelf life. More significantly, improvements in apparent hardness, compressive strength, wear characteristics, and some mechanical properties (see Appendix X1) can be observed due to steam treatment. The hardness of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) formed during steam treatment is typically equivalent to 50 HRC, and when present in sintered materials, their wear resistance can be improved significantly. Steam treatment is also used to seal parts or provide a base material for additional coatings. Steam treated ferrous PM materials are used in many industries, including automotive, marine, home appliances, and lawn and garden applications.

Subcomité:

B09.05

Volúmen:

02.05

Número ICS:

77.160 (Powder metallurgy)

Palabras clave:

blackening; black oxide; ferrous PM parts; iron oxide; magnetite; steam;