Ferrous alloys mechanical properties

The process is used for ferrous P/M stmctural parts that have densities of at least 7.4 g/cm and mechanical properties superior than those of parts that have been only compacted and sintered. Depending on the appHcation, the porous matrix may be infiltrated only partially or almost completely. Copper-base alloy infiltrants have been developed to minimise erosion of the iron matrix. 

For many years hydrogen was considered as a deleterious impurity which deteriorates mechanical properties of materials. This is clearly illustrated by hydrogen embrittlement of ferrous metals and alloys. The main effort of the research was aimed therefore at the study of hydrogen embrittlement and at the ways to avoid it. ... 

Cast iron may be used under similar circumstances, but has inferior mechanical properties. It has been used, although not in current practice, for internal cathodic protection, where it has been demonstrated that the presence of ferrous ions in water is of benefit in reducing sulphide-induced attack on Cu alloy tube plate and tubesWater treatment has now been found to be a more practical method. 

It must always be remembered that diffusion coatings are produced by a form of heat treatment and that, with the exception of low-temperature zinc diffusion (sherardising), the treated ferrous materials are usually in the annealed condition. Whenever the mechanical properties of the parts must be restored to their original level, a subsequent heat treatment is necessary . This does not as a rule present any difficulty with chromised or boronised steels. In order to prevent undue distortion and internal stresses during treatment and subsequent hardening, it is recommended that high-carbon and alloy steels should be processed in the normalised condition. 

In view of possible or probable variations in mechanical properties among different specimens of the same metal cut from different sheets or other pieces, or even from different sections of the same sheet or piece, it is necessary to pay careful attention to the initial sampling of stock to be used for control, as well as exposure, specimens. An interesting case in which several of these considerations were involved was provided by the long-time atmospheric exposure tests of non-ferrous metals carried out by Subcommittee VI of ASTM Committee B-3 on Corrosion of Non-Ferrous Metals and Alloys in which changes in tensile properties were used as one of the means of measuring the extent of corrosion. 

Ferrous Alloys. Many ancient objects allegedly made of iron actually consist not of the pure metal but of alloys of iron and carbon known by the generic name ferrous alloys. These can be broadly classified into two classes steel and cast iron. Steel is the common name for iron-carbon alloys in which the relative amount of carbon ranges between 0.03% and 2%. If the relative amount of carbon in the alloy exceeds 2%, the alloy is known as cast iron (see Table 33) (Angus 1976 Wertime 1961). Steel is outstanding because of the mechanical properties that it acquires when subjected to heat treatment, which causes changes in its structure and physical properties (see Textbox... 

Uses. Used in iron and steel production and in non-ferrous metals and alloys. It improves the creep strength of tin and the mechanical properties of lead. Used also in the vulcanization of rubber to reduce curing time and improve its characteristics. 

The use of CPs as anticorrosion materials has several advantages. CPs are suitable to replace chromate and other hazardous materials. They are cheap and easily deposited on protecting substrate by electrochemical or chemical synthesis methods. Moreover, CPs have the equilibrium potential positive relative to those of iron, aluminium and some other metals, so they can protect effectively ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. Although these beneficial properties, the interactions between CP and metal are numerous and complex, and the mechanisms of the corrosion protection are not yet fully clarified. 

In addition to nickel alloys, nickel also forms an important alloying element in stainless steels and in cast irons, in both of which it confers additional corrosion resistance and improved mechanical and engineering properties, and in Fe-Ni alloys for obtaining controlled physical and magnetic properties (see Chapter 3). With non-ferrous metals nickel also forms important types of alloys, especially with copper, i.e. cupro-nickels and nickel silvers these are dealt with in Section 4.2. 

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