Electrochemical behavior of injection molded gas and water atomized 17-4PH stainless steel powder

Abstract

This paper describes the electrochemical behavior of injection molded 17-4PH stainless steel gas and water atomized powder. Gas and water atomized stainless steel powders were injection molded with wax based binder. The critical powder loading for injection molding were 62.5 and 55 vol. % for gas and water atomized powders, respectively. Binder debinding was performed in solvent and thermal method. After dedinding the samples were sintered at different temperatures for 1 hour under vacuum. Metallographic studies were conducted to determine to extend densification and the corresponding microstructural changes. Electrochemical properties of the sintered samples were performed using scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical corrosion experiments. The results show that gas atomized powder could be sintered to a maximum 98.7 % of theoretical density and water atomized powder could be sintered to maximum 97.08 % of theoretical density. Results of study showed that sintered gas and water atomized 17-4PH samples exhibited good corrosion properties in a physiological environment. Finally, electrochemical properties show that the water atomized powder has lower than gas atomized powder. © 2017 Metal Powder Industries Federation. All Rights Reserved.