MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF HEAT TREATING POWDER METALLURGY STEEL COMPONENTS

Abstract

A mathematical model to predict the response of powder metallurgy steels to heat treatment is presented
and discussed. The model is based on modification of commercially available software that was originally
developed for wrought alloys so that it can account for the effect of porosity. An extensive database had to be
developed specifically for PM steels and includes porosity- and temperature-dependent phase transformation
kinetics, and porosity- and temperature-dependent phase-specific mechanical, physical, and thermal properties.
This extensive database has been developed for FL-4065 PM steel and has been used in the model to predict
dimensional change, distortion, and type and quantity of metallurgical phases that develop in a typical PM
component upon heat treatment. The model predictions are compared to measured values and are found to be in
excellent agreement with them.