Abstract: A Mo source powder is added to and mixed with an iron-based powder containing 1.0% by mass or less of prealloyed Mn to yield a powder mixture containing 0.2 to 10.0% by mass of Mo, the resulting powder mixture is subjected to heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere to thereby yield an alloyed steel powder containing Mo as a powder partially diffused and bonded to a surface of the iron-based powder particles. The prepared alloyed steel powder for powder metallurgy has satisfactory compactability. The use of this alloyed steel powder can produce a sintered powder metal body (an intermediate material after compaction and preliminary sintering in re-compaction of sintered powder materials process) for highly strong sintered member.

Abstract: A process for producing a sintered powder metal body is disclosed. A powdery mixture is prepared by blending a graphite powder in amount of not less than 0.3% by weight with an iron based metal powder. The powdery mixture is compacted into a preform having a density of not less than 7.3 g/cm.sup.3. The preform is sintered at a temperature of 800-1000.degree. C. to form the sintered powder metal body having a predetermined structure. The predetermined structure of the sintered powder metal body includes iron based metal particles and graphite particles retained between the iron based metal particles.