P/M High-Speed Steels for Valve Seat Insert Application 2001-01-0395

The importance of powder technology to the automotive industry is well known, mainly due to its growing potential. This work presents aspects related to high-speed steels for valve seat inserts application. Four series of materials were evaluated: high speed steel M3/2 infiltrated with copper during sintering; high speed steel M3/2 with Cu₃P addition; high speed steel M3/2 with Cu₃P addition and further copper infiltrated during sintering; high speed steel M3/2 mixed with iron powder. The main material selection topics such as cost, performance, reliability, and environmental aspects were considered. The physical and mechanical properties of the evaluated high-speed steels are presented in terms of densification, hardness, and radial mechanical strength.