Sintering Shrinkage and Microstructure Evolution during Densification of a Martensitic Stainless Steel

Blaine, D. C., Wu, Y., Schlaefer, C. E., Marx, B., & German, R. (2003). Sintering Shrinkage and Microstructure Evolution during Densification of a Martensitic Stainless Steel. Proceedings Sintering 2003, R. G. Cornwall, R. M. German, and G. L. Messing (eds), Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Abstract

The densification and microstructural evolution of 17-4PH stainless steel is investigated by means of dilatometry and quenching experiments. The densification kinetics are explained by identifying the microstructure with phase changes for this alloy at key points along the densification curve. Sintering experiments conducted in pure hydrogen, and in hydrogen-nitrogen atomspheres illustrate the austenitic stabilizing effect that nitrogen has on this martensitic stainless steel. This is shown to have a significant affect on the densification kinetics.