Process for producing alloy steel powder

摘要

A process for producing alloy steel powder, particularly, low-oxygen, low-carbon alloy steel powder is disclosed. The process comprises: preparing molten steel which contains at least one easily oxidizable element selected from the group consisting of chromium, manganese, vanadium, niobium, boron and silicon; atomizing said molten steel by means of an atomizing agent containing a non-oxidizing medium to provide as-atomized alloy steel powder containing 0.2% by weight or less of oxygen and 0.1% by weight or more of carbon; decarburizing the resulting powder by maintaining it in an atmosphere containing at least H2 and H2O gases under specified conditions; and cooling the thus decarburized alloy steel powder to room temperature in an inert or reducing atmosphere.