The Corrosion and Wear Behaviors of a Medium-Carbon Bainitic Steel Treated by Boro-Austempering Process

Abstract

The effects of boro-austempering treatment on growth kinetics of borided layers, microstructure, and properties in a medium-carbon bainitic steel were investigated. The microstructure, distribution in coatings, corrosion, and wear properties of boro-austempered steels were characterized by a microscope, field-emission electron probe micro analyzer, scanning vibrating electrode technique system and wear resistance machine. The results show that the corrosion resistance of steels in different corrosive mediums was significantly enhanced by boro-austempering treatment. In addition, the wear performance of borided layers was improved by more than two times compared to bainitic substrates, proving a better wear property of samples treated through the boro-austempering route. The solubility of carbon and silicon in borides is very little. In addition, the dual-phase coating of FeB and Fe2B was observed, and the internal stress induced during the growth of Fe2B and FeB was almost eliminated. The preferential crystallographic growth directions of Fe2B and FeB are [001] and [010], respectively, which belongs to the (100) plane. Finally, the kinetics equation d2 = 0.125·t of the borided layers at 1223 K was established.