Characteristic of interconnected porosity in ferrous PM compacts

The purpose of this work was to quantitatively describe the interconnected porosity in iron compacts, both in macro- and microscale. Size and volume fraction of micro-, meso- and macropores were examined in the compacts with density within 5˙6–6˙4 g cm⁻³, made in laboratory conditions of two iron powders: NC100˙24 and ASC100˙29 manufactured by Höganäs Company. The interconnected porosity was determined using the method based on measuring the sorption isotherms of CO₂ and benzene at T=25°C in static conditions in a high vacuum gravimetric appliance equipped with McBain–Bakr weighers.

Volume distributions of individual size classes of micro- and mesopores in the compacts made of both iron powders with fixed density were compared.

Relationships between density and the interconnected micro- and macroporosity of the examined compacts were determined.