Abstract

The densification behavior during a sintering of M2 and T15 grade high speed steel powder compacts was reported. Sintered densities over 98% theoretical were achieved by a liquid phase sintering in vacuum for both grades. The optimum sintering temperature range where full densification could be achieved without excessive carbide coarsening and incipient melting was much narrower in M2 than in T15 grade. The sintering response was mainly affected by the type of carbides present. The primary carbides in M2 were identified as M_6C type whereas those in T15 were MC type which provides wider sintering range. The addition of elemental carbon up to 0.3% lowered the optimum sintering temperature for both grades, but had little effect on expanding the sintering range and sintered structure.