Use of commercially pure hydrogen in the annealing and sintering of iron-base powder materials

The effect of temperature (1000–1600 K) and impurities on the oxidation-reduction potential, and ability to carburize iron, of complex gas atmospheres based on commercially pure hydrogen was studied. It was shown that it is possible to utilize gas with a high concentration of methane for the annealing of iron powder. Recommendations are given for the practical use of commercially pure hydrogen to maintain a given carbon concentration in iron-base powder materials during annealing and sintering.