In most of sintered metal powder compacts, the sintered density distribution is controlled to be as high and uniform as possible to ensure the required mechanical properties. In general, the density distribution in the compacts is not uniform and not easy to measure. In the present study, a method for measuring the density distribution was developed, based on the indentation force equation by which the hardness and the relative density were related. The indentation force equation, expressed as a function of strength constant, workhardening coefficient and relative density, was obtained by finite element analysis of rigid-ball indentation on sintered powder metal compacts. The present method was verified by comparing the predicted density distribution in the sintered Fe-0.5%C-2%Cu compacts with that obtained by experiments, in which the density distribution was directly measured by machining the compacts from the outer surface progressively.

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