Contribution a l'etude et au developpement de poudres autotrempantes a compressibilite amelioree (French text)

The main objectives of this project is to develop new sinter-hardenable powders and to study the effect of different parameters to obtain good sinter-hardenable powders with high compressibility. Each alloying element have their particular effects on compressibility and sinter-hardening. Molybdenum is one of these elements which is good for sinter-hardenability, not too detrimental to compressibility and its oxide is easily reductible. It is for these reasons that we developed powders mainly alloyed with molybdenum. We also studied the effect of vanadium on sinter-hardenability and compressibility. Vanadium is usually used in wrought steels, but is rarely used in steel powders. Vanadium greatly enhances hardenability, but its effects on compressibility is unknown. The effects of copper also have been investigated on sinter-hardenability and compressibility. Copper is widely used ad-mixed (1%--3% Cu) with sinter-hardenable powders. We have studied the effect of ad-mixed copper as well as alloyed at 2% and at higher contents (5% and 10%) on compressibility and sinter-hardenability. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...