MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Many applications require demanding mechanical properties. Typical tensile properties of the stainless steel alloy 17-4PH are shown in the graph below. These data are based on an average of 30 samples,heat treated to the H1025 condition. The 3/8" diameter tensile bars employed had an average sintered density of 99±0.5%. Tensile properties were essentially equivalent to wrought and exceeded typical cast properties.

Control of carbon is essential to the uniform formation of martensite that defines mechanical properties in 17-4PH. Due to the low level of binder in aqueous based agar feedstock, as well as its relative ease in removal during sintering, carbon is well controlled. The broad specification for 17-4PH is <0.07 wt.% carbon with vendor specifications often below 0.05wt%. Carbon analysis in sintered components derived from the feedstock have been measured at 0.01 wt.%, even in material cut from the center and edge of a 0.75 inch cross section. Optical micrographs of the core and near surface areas of 17-4PH HIPed+H1025 show a uniform formation of martensite, further demonstrating the superb control of carbon achieved through the use of this feedstock.

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