Abstract
Iron powders having average particle sizes of similar to 40 mu m are mechanically mixed thoroughly with aluminum powders ranging from 1 to 10 in wt. %, with an average particle size of similar to 10 mu m. Two different powder metallurgy (PM) techniques, cold and hot pressing, are used to study the effect of the additive element powder on the mechanical properties, wear properties, and the microstructure of the iron based alloys. The hot pressing technique was performed at a temperature reaching up to 500 degrees C at 445.6 MPa. The cold pressing technique was performed at 909 MPa at room temperature. By increasing the Al content to 10 wt. % in the base Fe-based matrix, the Brinell hardness number was decreased from 780 to 690 and the radial strength from 380 to 228 MPa with reductions of 11.5% and 40%, respectively. Improvement of the wear resistance with the increase addition of the Al powder to the Fe matrix up to five times was achieved, compared to the alloy without Al addition for different wear parameters: wear time and sliding speed.