Abstract: Chromium-containing iron or steel powder containing about 0.2-15 percent by weight of chromium, the rest being iron. The powder is characterized thereby that the chromium is present in the form of a powder-formed Fe-Cr-alloy in .alpha.-phase containing about 40-50 percent by weight of chromium and having a particle size essentially less than about 50 .mu.m; a process for manufacturing the powder and pressed and sintered products manufactured in a powder-metallurgical manner starting from the said powder.

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.