MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF HEAT TREATING POWDER METALLURGY STEEL COMPONENTS

A mathematical model to predict the response of powder metallurgy steels to heat treatment is presentedand discussed. The model is based on modification of commercially available software that was originallydeveloped for wrought alloys so that it can account for the effect of porosity. An extensive database had to bedeveloped specifically for PM steels and includes porosity- and temperature-dependent phase transformationkinetics, 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 predictdimensional change, distortion, and type and quantity of metallurgical phases that develop in a typical PMcomponent upon heat treatment. The model predictions are compared to measured values and are found to be inexcellent agreement with them