Abstract: A powder metallurgical method is described for producing precision components of sintered steel having high strength and high ductility by compressing a powder to form a green compact and sintering the latter at a temperature from 950.degree. to 1250.degree. C. for 5 to 90 minutes in a reducing atmosphere of partially combusted hydrocarbons, sufficient carbon being present to impart a carbon content of 0.05 to 0.6% by weight in the sintered steel; said powder consisting essentially of iron powder containing 0.65 to 0.8% phosphorus, 0.1 to 0.5% graphite or carbon powder, and 0 to 1.5% of a solid lubricant.

Abstract: An improved composition, for the powder metallurgical manufacture by sintering of soft magnetic components which consists essentially of powdered iron and phosphorus. Phosphorus is present in an amount of up to about 1.5% by weight of the composition. The improvement comprises powdered iron at least about 99.8% pure and containing less than about 5% by weight of particles exceeding 35 Tyler mesh (417 .mu.m) and less than about 20% by weight of particles less than 100 Tyler mesh (147 .mu.m), the remainder of the particles being in the range between about 35 and 100 Tyler mesh (417 and 147 .mu.m). The phosphorus content and iron particle size distribution is such that on sintering the composition provides components of satisfactory mechanical strength and having soft magnetic properties about as good as or better than the soft magnetic properties of components made of solid iron of comparable purity.

Abstract: New phosphorus-containing steel powders for use in the manufacture of sintered components of high toughness are described which comprise steel powder substantially free of phosphorus and having good compressibility, and in intimate admixture therewith, a ferrophosphorus powder having a phosphorus content of at least about 2.8% by weight and preferably about 12 to 17%, in proportions to provide a phosphorus content in the final powder of from about 0.2 to 1.5% by weight, the ferrophosphorus powder containing at least about 0.3% carbon and preferably about 0.5 to 2.5% and having a maximum particle size of about 10 to 20 .mu.m.

Abstract: A phosphorus steel powder for manufacturing sintered details having an extremely small tendency to brittleness ruptures consists of iron or steel powder substantially free from phosphorus, mixed with a phosphorus powder characterized by a maximum particle size of 20 .mu.m, preferably a maximum particle size of 10 .mu.m. The phosphorus content of the ferrophosphorus powder shall exceed 2.8% and in order to reduce the wearing of the tools the phosphorus content shall be less than 17%. If the ferrophosphorus powder is manufactured by grinding piece goods the phosphorus content shall exceed 12% and shall preferably be between 14 and 16%. The phosphorus content of the preferred mixture is between 0.2 and 1.5%. The iron-ferrophosphorus mixture is heated with or without the addition of oil in reducing atmosphere to a temperature of between 650.degree. and 900.degree. C for a period of 15 minutes to 2 hours to improve the protection against segregation.