Surface Modification of Low Carbon Steel by Using Electrophoretic Deposition Technique with Graphene Oxide Powder

Abstract

In this research, low carbon steel surface was modified using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique from a graphene oxide (GO) water suspension. The electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is the technique used for manipulation and deposition of nanomaterials. The GO coating was used as a layer to increase the hardness of low carbon steel. GO was successfully synthesized using the modified Hummers method. EPD technique was performed by applying voltage at 9 volts and the deposition time of 15 mins. The working distance between the cathode and anode was fixed at 15 mm. The GO film had been deposited by EPD technique where it was carburized at 900, 950, 1000 and 1050°C, for 60 mins. The microstructure of the carbide film was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As the carburization temperature raised (1050°C), more volume carbon atoms reacted with iron atoms to form iron carbon (Fe3C) layer on to the substrate surface. The carbide films are columnar crystal growth with a particle size of approximately 50 μm. The growth rate of the carbide films at 1050°C is about 8 µm/min. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) was studied for chemical elements analysis. Fe, C and O elements were then detected. At carburization temperature of 1050°C, it showed that C element distribution is higher than others’ temperatures. Moreover, the hardness on the carbide films was investigated using a Vickers hardness tester under an applied load of 500 grams for 10 seconds. It was found that the hardness increased with the increasing carburization temperatures. The hardness of low carbon steel is 172.99 ± 2.28 HV. After the carburization processing via GO at temperature of 1050°C, the highest hardness of 821.42 ± 35.33 HV was obtained. It was observed that the mechanical properties of low carbon steel surface were found to be strongly influenced by the process of carburization temperature.