Platov South-Russian State Polytechnical University (NPI) (Novocherkassk, Russia)
S. N. Sergeenko, Cand. Eng., Associate Prof., sergeenko@gmail.com

The mechanical activation of a 110G13 grade powder steel charge with boric acid additives was studied. In the first stage, mechanical alloying of the powder charge containing Fe, boric acid, and FeMn powders was performed, followed by mixing with graphite. The fractional composition of the 110G13 grade powder steel charge was studied depending on the boric acid content and the duration of mechanical activation. The minimum values of the average charge size after mechanical activation and subsequent manual processing are achieved with increased processing time (~2.1 h) and boric acid content (3.5 wt.%). The introduction of boric acid into the charge affects the dispersion and aggregation kinetics of powder particles during mechanical activation. For charges containing less than 3.5 wt.% boric acid, particle dispersion, characterized by a decrease in particle size, is observed with increasing processing time. Increasing the H3BO3 concentration in the charge above 3.5 wt.%. Leads to powder particle aggregation with increasing mechanical activation duration. To describe the influence of processing time and boric acid content in the charge on the parameters of the Rosin-Rammler equation for powder charges, threedimensional logistic models were constructed, describing the results of experimental studies with increased correlation coefficient values. The boric acid content in the charge and processing time not only influence the average particle size of the charge but also determine the calculated thickness of the B2O3 coating on the 110G13 charge particles. The minimum calculated thickness (0.17 μm) of the B2O3 coating layer is achieved with an increased processing time (1.8 h) and a reduced boric acid content in the charge (1.0 % by weight). Moreover, the charge has a reduced average particle size (44 μm), ensuring the production of sintered 110G13 powder steel with an increased relative density of 0.935 at a cold pressing pressure of 750 MPa.

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