Synthesis of Fe-Based Alloy Reinforced with Chromium Carbide Via Sintering of Iron-Ferrochrome Powder Mixture

The results of the investigation of the structure, phase composition, and properties of the alloy sintered from a mixture of iron (65 %) and high-carbon ferrochrome (35 %) powders are presented in the article. It was shown that sintering of the consolidated specimens results in a substantially heterogeneous structure consisting of two predominant phases: austenitic phase and double ferrochrome carbide. A mechanism is proposed for the dissolution of ferrochrome particles in the iron matrix as follows: M7C3 → M3C (1000÷1150 ºС) → M7C3 (1200÷1250 ºС).