Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of the Sintered Composite FeCuC in Two Different Atmospheres

This study aimed to analyze the mechanical properties of the compound FeCuC when compacted at varying pressures and sintered in two different types of furnaces. Besides the different models of furnace, the working atmospheres were varied: one is being composed with argon gas and another constituted with a balancing nitrogen and hydrogen. Atmospheres vary with the amount of production and the type of equipment used. The compound generated is used in the manufacture of rings for mechanical seals and is currently manufactured by the sintering process in passing furnace. The sintering was performed in a static furnace with argon atmosphere and compared with the same compound sintered in passage furnace with hydrogen and nitrogen atmosphere. The analysis of the properties of the tested material was performed with the aid of metallography using a scanning electron microscope, which verified the particle size distribution, chemical elements and pores present. Brinell hardness and Vickers micro hardness tests were also used to analyze the properties of this material after completion of the two processes. Thus, the research carried out has shown that variations may occur in the mechanical properties when processed in different furnace types and different sintering atmospheres.