Tensile stress-strain and dynamic acoustic resonance tests were performed on Fe-C-Ni-Cu-Mo high-strength steels, characterized by a heterogeneous matrix microstructure and the prevalence of open porosity. All materials display the first yielding phenomenon and, successively, a continuous yielding behavior. This flow behavior can be described by the Ludwigson equation and developes through three stages: the onset of localized plastic deformation at the pore edges; the evolution of plastic deformation at the pore necks (where the austenitic Ni-rich phase is predominant); the spreading of plastic deformation in the interior of the matrix. The analytical modeling of the strain hardening behavior made it possible to obtain the boundaries between the different deformation stages.

Organically bonded P/M mixes have been developed to improve the stability of dimensional properties by reducing the segregation of the mix constituents and improving the filling characteristics. Robustness and reliability are key factors for the promotion of P/M as cost effective substitute of competing manufacturing technologies. Based on the production of four different belt pulleys, this paper presents the achievement of reduced weight scatter and close dimensional control realizable by using a StarmixTM that is organically bonded.