Electrochemical boriding and characterization of AISI 1020 steel

Abstract

In this study, tribological properties of borided 1020 steel were investigated with reciprocating tests under dry sliding conditions with a ball-on-flat geometry. For boriding, a new electrochemical based boriding called as CRTD-Bor (Cathodic Reduction and Thermal Diffusion based boriding) was chosen. CRTD-Bor was performed in borax based electrolyte composing of 90% borax (Na2B4O7) and 10% sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) at the constant current density of 200 mA/cm2 and the temperature of 950 °C for a short period of 15 min. The borided surface demonstrated much superior wear performance compared to the base 1020 steel.