Controlling the surface cleanliness of nanostructured alpha-iron and M50 type steel (Fe-Cr-Mo-V-C) powders

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe cleaning effectiveness of flowing hydrogen to remove oxygen (adsorbed and metal oxide) and carbon (elemental, carbides and carbon-hydrogen complex) from the surface of nanostructured alpha-iron and M50 type steel (Fe-Cr-Mo-V-C) alloy powders was investigated. The hydrogen treated powders and consolidated material were examined by bulk chemical analysis and metallographic examination. The trends in the cleaning effectiveness compared favorably with predictions from Richardson and Jeffies plots of metal-metal oxide equilibria.