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:
<UnorderedLists id="ula01" listStyle="none"><ListItem>(a) heating the ferrous powder metallurgy compact in the heating zone of a sintering furnace to a temperature of about 2,300 to 2,550°F (1,260 to 1,399°C),</ListItem><ListItem>(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</ListItem><ListItem>(c) removing the sintered product from the furnace.</ListItem></UnorderedLists>