Sintered valve seat and its production method
To provide a press-fit, sintered valve seat having high valve coolability and wear resistance for use in a high-efficiency engine, and its production method, Cu powder having an average particle size of 45 μm or less and purity of 99.5% or more is used to form a network-connected Cu matrix, even though a relatively large amount of hard Co-based alloy particles are added; and Fe—P alloy powder is used for densification by liquid-phase sintering.
1. A sintered valve seat having hard Co-based alloy particles dispersed in a Cu matrix; said sintered valve seat comprising by mass 2.1-6.0% of Fe and 0.8-2.2% of P, in addition to components forming said Cu matrix and said hard particles, wherein
said hard particles have an average particle size of 5-100 μm,
said hard particles are in an amount of 30-70% by mass, and
said hard particles are made of a Co—Mo—Cr—Si alloy or a Co—W—Cr—C alloy, said Co—Mo—Cr—Si alloy comprising by mass 27.5-30.0% of Mo, 7.5-10.0% of Cr, and 2.0-4.0% of Si, the balance being Co and inevitable impurities, and said Co—W—Cr—C alloy comprising by mass 3.0-10.0% of W, 25.0-31.0% of Cr, and 1.0-2.0% of C, the balance being Co and inevitable impurities.
2. The sintered valve seat according to claim 1 , which further comprises 5% or less by mass of Ni.
3. The sintered valve seat according to claim 1 , wherein said hard particles have Vickers hardness of 500-800 HV0.1.
4. A method for producing a sintered valve seat of claim 1 , comprising the steps of compressing, molding and sintering a mixed powder of Cu powder, alloy element powder and said hard particles; said Cu powder having an average particle size of 45 μm or less and purity of 99.5% or more; and said alloy element powder being an Fe—P alloy powder.
5. The method for producing a sintered valve according to claim 4 , wherein said Cu powder is electrolytic Cu powder.
6. The method for producing a sintered valve according to claim 4 , wherein the temperature of said sintering step is 850-1070° C.