One area where powder metallurgy has proved to be superior to other means of manufacturing is wear resistant structures. Highly wear resistant high speed steel powders are commonly used in both HIPped and pressed and sintered forms. The carbide size and structure obtained depends both on production conditions and carbide type but the carbide types are fixed by the alloy
composition. Alternative carbides have different properties and can be introduced
in new alloy compositions. Höganäs researchers have been working on the development of a new material where the carbides are designed to be of the most useful type for a sintered
tool steel. A mix of small hard carbides and larger less hard carbides in a matrix
capable of being hardened gives a good combination of properties. In some applications,
they say, the properties achieved are more effective than those obtained from the pressed and sintered M3/2 and M2 currently in use. High speed steel alloys are extremely
wear resistant. In a sintered form containing pores, or in a composite form, high speed steel powders have also been shown to provide hard-wearing components in arduous conditions and have played a valuable role in the production of components used in every day life for many years
[1]. However, high speed steel contains expensive elements whose price is volatile. There is a need for alloys containing elements with lower and less volatile prices that can compete with high speed steel powder in PM applications.