Metallurgical properties of boride layers formed in pack boronized cementation steel

Abstract

Abstract In the present study, cementation steel was exposed to boronizing process at 950 °C for 6, 8, and 10 h. Microstructural changes on the surface of the samples after boron operation were inspected by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron back-scatter diffraction, and elemental mapping analysis. In addition, surface roughness, microhardness, and boride layer thicknesses were measured. The boride layers deposited on the cementation steel consisted either single or double phases. The level of boride deposit of all samples was achieved from 90 to 156 μm. The boride layer created at 950 °C for 10 h involved the FeB and Fe2B. The boride layers had a much higher hardness value than the substrate material due to the presence of FeB and Fe2B.