OPTIMIZATION OF VARIABLES AFFECTING CORROSION RESISTANCE OF VACUUM SINTERED STAINLESS STEELS

MATERIAL AND PROCESS VARIABLES THAT STRONGLY AFFECT THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF PA4 STAINLESS STEELS, INCLUDE : ALLOY COMPOSITION, POWDER CLEANLINESS, NITROGEN, OXYGEN AND GARBON CONTENTS, CHROMIUM DEPLETION DUE TO SURFACE EVAPORATION AND SINTERED DENSITY. THE OPTIMUM PROCESS PARAMETERS FOR DELUBRICATION AND SINTERING THAT RESULT IN LOWEST LEVELS OF NITROGEN, OXYGEN AND CARBON AND MINIMUM LEVELS OF CHROMIUM DEPLETION WILL BE PRESENTED, FOR A NUMBER OF AUSTENTIC AND FERRITIC STAINLESS STEELS. THE EFFECT OF SINTERED DENSITY ON THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF BOTH AUSTENITIC AND FERRITIC GRADES OF STAINLESS STEEL WILL ALSO BE COVERED.