I. Campos-Silva

Diffusion model for growth of Fe2B layer in pure iron

Abstract A simple diffusion model is proposed to estimate the growth kinetics of Fe2B layers created at the surface of pure iron. This model employs the mass balance equation at the Fe2B/substrate interface to evaluate the boron diffusion coefficient (DFe2B) in the boride layer. The Fe2B layers were formed using the paste boriding process, at four temperatures with different exposure times. Analysing the results, the evolution of the parabolic growth constant (k) of the Fe2B layer is presented as a function of boron concentration and boride incubation time [t0(T)]. Furthermore, the instantaneous velocity of the Fe2B/substrate interface and the weight gain of borided pure iron were estimated for different boriding temperatures. Finally, to validate the diffusion model, the boride layer thicknesses were predicted and experimentally verified for two boriding temperatures and for different treatment times.

Growth Kinetics of Boride Layers: A Modified Approach

This study evaluates the boron diffusion in the Fe2B phase formed at the surface of AISI 1018 steels during the paste boriding process. The treatment was carried out at temperatures of 1123, 1173, 1223 and 1273 K with 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 h exposure times for each temperature using a 4 mm layer thickness of boron carbide paste over the material surface. The boron diffusion coefficient Fe2B D was determined by the mass balance equation and the boride incubation time assuming that the boride layers obey the parabolic growth law, while the boron concentration profile along the interphase Fe2B/substrate was unknown. The boron diffusion coefficient was interpreted as a function of the treatment temperature, obtaining the activation energy value for diffusion controlled growth of Fe2B boride phase.

Damage Mechanisms in AISI 304 Borided Steel: Scratch and Daimler-Benz Adhesion Tests

In this study, damage mechanisms in the FeB/Fe2B coatings formed on the surface of AISI 304 steel are determined by adhesion tests. First, the boriding of the AISI 304 steel was carried out through the powder-pack method at 1223 K in the range from 2-10 h of exposure time. After treatment, Berkovich depth-sensing indentation test were conducted; the result showed tensil and compressive residual stresses in the FeB and Fe2B, respectively. The adhesion of borided steels was evaluated by the Daimler-Benz Rockwell-C and scratch test. Based on the scratch tracks, the chipping was the predominant mechanism at 2 and 6 h, with critical loads of 35 and 43 N, respectively; while spalliation was determined at 27 N for 10 h. Also, hertzian and tensil cracks, buckling and compressive delamination were determined in the AISI 304 borided steel by scanning electron microscope.

Determination of Boron Diffusion Coefficients in Borided Tool Steels

The boron diffusion in the Fe2B and FeB borided phases formed at the surface of AISI H13 tool steels during the paste boriding process was estimated. The treatment was carried out at temperatures of 1173, 1223 and 1273 K with 2, 4, 6 and 8 h exposure times for each temperature using a 4 mm layer thickness of boron carbide paste over the material surface. The boride layers were characterized by the GDOES technique to determine in quantitative form the presence of the alloying elements on the borided phases. The boron diffusion coefficients and were determined by the mass balance equation and the boride incubation time assuming that the boride layers obey the parabolic growth law. Also, the mass gain produced by both boride layers at the surface of the tool steels was determined. Finally, the boron diffusion coefficients were interpreted as a function of the treatment temperature, obtaining the activation energy values for the diffusion controlled growth of Fe2B and FeB hard coatings.

Characterisation of CoB–Co2B coatings by the scratch test

New results about the scratch practical adhesion-resistance of the CoB–Co2B/substrate system developed at the surface of CoCrMo (ASTM-F75) alloy were estimated. The boron diffusion on the surface of the cobalt alloy was conducted using the powder-pack boriding process at temperatures of 1223 and 1273u2005K with different exposure times for each temperature. The scratch tests over the surface of cobalt borided alloy were performed with a 200 micrometres Rockwell C diamond indenter considering a continuously increasing normal force for the entire set of experimental conditions of the boriding process. The worn tracks produced on the coating/substrate system were analysed by optical and scanning electron microscopy to estimate and identify the critical loads and failure mechanisms, respectively. The results indicated that the critical loads varied between 95 and 142u2005N as a function of the boride coating thicknesses with a development of various types of failure mechanisms over the surface of the coating/substrate system.

Properties and Characterization of Hard Coatings Obtained by Boriding: An Overview

Some physicochemical and mechanical properties of surface hard coatings obtained by the paste-boriding process are summarized in this work. Different grades of borided ferrous alloys were used to develop the formation of surface layers type Fe2B or FeB/Fe2B. Furthermore, in order to characterize the nature of boride layers, some classical techniques are presented and discussed such as Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and estimation of residual stresses by X-Ray Diffraction method. Also, the morphology of borided interfaces was evaluated by concepts of fractal theory.

Evaluation of Brittle Layers Obtained by Boriding on AISI H13 Steels

The fracture toughness of AISI H13 borided steel and the strength adhesion of the coated system were estimated in the present work. The formation of the layers was carried out by the powder pack boriding process at 1273 K with 8 h of treatment. The fracture toughness (KC) of the layer is estimated at 25 and 45 uf06dm from the surface using four different Vickers indentation loads. The KC values were estimated by the extension of Palmqvist cracks parallel and perpendicular to the surface obtained at the indentation corners. The adherence of the layer/substrate was evaluated in qualitative form through the Rockwell-C indentation technique. The results obtained by both techniques, show, in first instance, that the fracture toughness of the boride layer can be expressed in the form (KC) (π/2) > (KC) > (KC) (0). Also, high delamination is obtained around the Rockwell-C indentation prints that denote poor adhesion in the coating-substrate interface.

Diffusion Boride Coatings in CoCrMo Alloy and Some Indentation Properties

Some mechanical properties for cobalt boride (CoB and Co2B) coatings were obtained using the Vickers depth-sensing indentation technique. The coatings were developed on the surface of a CoCrMo alloy using the powder-pack boriding process at temperatures between 1223 and 1273xa0K using different exposure times for each temperature. Vickers indentations were conducted at constant distances from the surface using loads ranging from 15 to 450xa0mN. For the entire set of experimental conditions, the behavior of the indentation properties was examined as a function of the indentation loads. Universal expressions were used to determine the apparent or real hardness, the indentation Young’s modulus, and fracture toughness of the CoB and Co2B coatings. The results indicated that the CoB and Co2B coatings exhibited an apparent hardness of 20 and 17xa0GPa, respectively, in which the fracture toughness of the cobalt boride coatings only varied slightly in the set of experimental conditions proposed in this work.

Dependence between the Boron Surface Concentration and the Growth Kinetics of Boride Layers in AISI 4140 Steels

The present work estimated the growth kinetics of Fe2B layers formed at the surface of AISI 4140 steels. The thermochemical treatment was applied in order to produce the Fe2B phase, considering temperatures of 1123, 1173, 1223 and 1273 K with five exposure times (2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 h), using a 4 mm thick layer of boron carbide paste over the material surface. The growth of boride layers was described by the mass balance equation between phases in thermodynamic equilibrium, assuming that the growth of boride layers obeys the parabolic growth equation and the boron concentration at the interfaces remains constant. Also, the boron diffusion coefficient at the Fe2B ( ) was established as a function of boriding temperature. Likewise, the parabolic growth constant (k), the instantaneous velocity (v) of the Fe2B/substrate interface and the weight-gain of borided steels were established as a function of the parameters and , which are related to the boride incubation time ( ) and boron surface concentration ( ), respectively.

Anisotropy of Boride Layers: Effect on the Mechanical Properties of AISI 4140 Borided Steels

The growth of iron borides over the surface of different steels is of high anisotropy. It was determined that the anisotropy of borided phases reveals a significant instability of properties in service. One of the techniques to determine the effect of anisotropy on the mechanical properties of boride layers is the induced-fracture by Vickers microindentation. During the present work, the fracture toughness (KC) of the Fe2B hard coatings has been estimated at the surface of AISI 4140 borided steels. The force criterion of fracture toughness was determined from the extent of brittle cracks originating at the tips of an indenter impression. The indentation loads were established between 1.9 to 9.8 N at three different distances from the borided surface. The KC values were expressed as a function of temperature, treatment time and the indentation distances from the surface. Likewise, the adherence of the coated system was evaluated by Rockwell-C indentation, where the borided steel showed sufficient adhesion.