Mechanical and Physical Properties of Dispersion-Strengthened Iron

The dispersion-strengthening phenomenon in iron was studied by using fine powders of alumina, magnesia and silica as dispersing particles. Observations were carried out of micrographs, hardness, creep rupture and thermal expansion. Cu base dispersion-strengthened alloys were also examined for reference. The results obtained were as follows : (1) In iron alloys alumina was most effective and silica was least. (2) Growth of particles during heating at high temperature may be due to the existence of wustite. (3) The less the expansion coefficient, the stronger the effect of dispersion strengthening