Thermoanalytical techniques for characterizing sintering processes in ferrous powder metallurgy

Abstract For powder metallurgy processing, the sintering stage, i.e. heat treatment of a compact below melting point -at least- major component, is decisive for establishing microstructure and properties. Thorough studying chemical metallurgical processes occurring during essential attaining optimal product properties, has therefore been focus investigations many decades. Thermoanalytical techniques, at best combined with analysis, enable in-situ characterization process from perspectives. When using these techniques in metallurgy, it should be considered that very large specific surface compact, compared to solid metallic body, results much higher reactivity surrounding atmosphere. This atmosphere on one hand “external” one, outside body free space furnace, other “internal” within pore network specimen. paper shows different examples how critical information about can described by thermoanalytical mass spectroscopy: e.g. phase transformations liquid formation powdered deoxidation decarburization reactions, interstitial redistribution sintered alloy steels prepared through alloying techniques.