Investigating the dependence of the properties of sintered boron-containing steels on conditions of synthesis and the content of employed foundry alloys

Results from investigating the effect of technological conditions for the synthesis of powdered boron-containing foundry alloys on their chemical and phase compositions and the content of foundry alloys in the charge on the structure and properties of sintered steels fabricated using them are presented. It is shown that using denser briquettes obtained at a pressure of ≥700 MPa allows us to reduce substantially boron evaporation through the gas phase during the synthesis of foundry alloys, relative to briquettes compacted at lower pressures. Using an elevated foundry alloy synthesis temperature (1200°C) leads to higher density of the post-sintered material, and thus to enhanced strength characteristics. Increasing the boron content in the initial charge increases the hardness and lowers the strength of sintered steels, while the curve of the strength’s dependence on the boron content after thermal treatment peaks at ∼0.8% B.