In-situ Reduction by Incorporating H2 Filled Hollow Glass Microspheres in PM HIP Capsules

Sammanfattning: For many metal components the presence of hard, non-metallic inclusions such as oxides lowers the impact toughness by acting as fracture initiation points and easing crack propagation. In components produced by powder metallurgy hot isostatic pressing (PM HIP), oxides often form a continuous network of small, spherical inclusions after consolidation at the prior particle boundaries (PPB). It is therefore of great importance to reduce surface oxides before consolidation in order to improve mechanical properties. In this work, oxides were attempted to be reduced directly prior to the consolidation of one tool steel and one low-alloy steel by introducing H2 into sealed PM HIP capsules. The two H2-carriers were hollow glass microspheres and the compound ammonia borane (H3NBH3). The H2-carriers were placed separately from the metal powder. Microspheres were filled at 300 °C with a gas mixture at 675 bar resulting in a storage capacity of 0.16 wt%. Gaseous species released from the H2-carriers during heating were analysed by mass spectrometry. Results showed that the microspheres only release H2 while ammonia borane in addition releases other nitrogen and boron containing species. Impact testing as well as chemical and microstructural analysis were performed on the two consolidated materials with samples retrieved from different vertical and radial positions. Both H2-carriers had leaked into the material resulting in decreased impact toughness compared to the reference. Further from the source of the contaminants, oxygen content was reduced and impact toughness was improved. Microspheres showed overall better reduction ability even though they release less hydrogen compared to ammonia borane. Impact toughness was not improved as much with ammonia borane even though similar oxygen levels were achieved. Ammonia borane’s decomposition products likely obstruct the oxide reduction or introduce new inclusions lowering the impact toughness.