High-temperature wear and oxidation behavior of electrochemically borided low carbon steel

Abstract

In this study, a single-phase Fe2B layer, which is a coating type with high hardness and wear resistance, was formed on AISI 1020 steel surface by phase homogenization in electrochemical boriding (PHEB) method. Metallographic studies and XRD analysis revealed that single-phase Fe2B layer was formed on the low carbon steel surface. It was founded that after 60 min (15 min of electrochemical boriding and 45 min of phase homogenization) of treatment at 950 degrees C it is possible to grow 57 +/- 5 mu m thick Fe2B layer exhibiting 1450 +/- 50 HV0.05 on the surface with excellent adhesion to the steel substrate. The wear behavior of AISI 1020 steel and single-phase Fe2B layer, which showed similar oxidation tendency in the oxidation tests performed at 400 degrees C, was almost the same, while the single-phase Fe2B layer, which showed the least mass gain in the oxidation tests performed at 600 degrees C, demonstrated less wear 55.4% as compared to AISI 1020 steel.