Performance improvement of P/M 316L by addition of liquid phase forming powder

AISI 316L stainless steel powder was mixed with various amounts of tin and tin alloy (babbitt) powders. The amounts of tin and babbitt powders were varied from 2 to 6 wt.%. The mixed powders were compacted into tensile test bars (TTBs) with green density of 6.58 ± 0.02 g/cm3. Sintering of the compacted TTBs was carried out in pure hydrogen at 1300 °C for 45 min. It was observed that sintered density of TTBs was increased significantly when added tin and babbitt amounts were higher than a specific content. Addition of tin and babbitt also affected microstructure of sintered materials. Grain growth was an obvious evidence of microstructural change. Most mechanical properties, such as ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and hardness, excluding elongation, were improved when 4 and 6 wt.% of tin and babbitt were added.