STRUCTURE AND HARDNESS OF ULTRAFINE-GRAINED OXIDIZED IRON COMPACTS

TEM and scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used t o study the changes in the structure and phase composition of oxidized iron particles compacted under high pressure to a high degree of stra in (e = 5). This treatment yielded solid specimens with dissolved oxid e phase, highly dispersed structure (average fragment size < 0.03 mu m ) possessing a high level of hardness. The effect of annealing tempera ture on the structure, phase composition and hardness of compacts was studied.