Development of 410S-Y₂O₃ oxide dispersion strengthened steel prepared by a powder metallurgy technique

In the present study, the Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) steels were synthesized by adding various concentration of Y₂O₃ (0, 0.25, 0.35 and 1 wt. %) into 410S steel. The sample preparation was carried out using a powder metallurgy technique. The steel-Y₂O₃ powders were wet mechanically alloyed for 3 h, dried and then compacted into green body. The samples were sintered in a vacuum furnace at elevated temperatures of 1000 °C and 1100 °C for 3 h. The phase analysis and structural characterization were carried out by XRD and SEM-EDX, respectively. The bulk density and hardness of the samples were measured using Archimedes principle and Vickers hardness tester, respectively. According to the results of metallographic characterization, ODS steels are composed mainly by (Fe,Cr) phase. The SEM observations indicate the presence of precipitates in the sintered steels. The density and hardness of the sample sintered at 1000 and 1100 °C increase with the increase of Y₂O₃ concentration. At 1100 °C, however, the density and hardness of ODS steel containing 1 wt. % Y₂O₃ have a tendency to decrease due to the formation of a compound consisting of Fe, Cr, Mn, Si and O. (paper)