Process for providing a uniform carbon distribution in ferrous compacts at high temperatures

摘要

A process for high temperature sintering of ferrous powder metallurgy compacts having a substantially uniform carbon distribution which comprises: (a) heating the ferrous powder metallurgy compact in the heating zone of a sintering furnace to a temperature of about 2,300 DEG to 2,550 DEG F. (1,260 DEG to 1,399 DEG C.), (b) introducing to the heating zone an atmosphere comprising about 2 to less than 10 volume percent hydrogen, about 0.5 to 2.0 volume percent carbon monoxide, about 0.5 to 1.0 volume percent methane and the balance nitrogen, and (c) removing the sintered product from the furnace.