Abstract: Sintered materials and a method for their manufacture are described together with products made therefrom, such as piston rings and valve seat inserts for internal combustion engines. The sintered material comprises a porous matrix with a composition lying in the range expressed in wt % of 8 to 12 chromium, 0.5 to 3 molybdenum, up to 1.5 vanadium, 0.2 to 1.5 carbon, other impurities 2 max., up to 1 manganese sulphide, optionally up to 5 molybdenum disulphide, balance iron, the matrix having a uniform dispersion of submicroscopic particles of molybdenum rich carbides which render the material resistant to thermal softening.