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The Effect of Vacuum Carburizing on the Mechanical and Wear Properties of Fe–C–Cu Composite Materials Produced via Powder Metallurgy

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Abstract

This study investigated the effects of the direct vacuum carburizing process on sinterability, mechanical, and wear properties applied to the composites produced via the powder metallurgy (PM) method and containing of Fe–C–Cu. Direct sintering (DS), sintering + vacuum carburizing (S + VC), and direct vacuum carburizing (DVC) heat treatment processes were applied to the samples, respectively, and these processes were compared in terms of the results of the hardness measurements, three-point bending tests, and wear tests applied after the treatments. The material characterization results were interpreted via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. It was found that the samples’ hardness and bending strength increased with the graphite and copper ratio in the composite material, and copper also increased the ductility. Wear split and micro-cracks were observed on worn surfaces with increase in hardness. After the sintering process, necks had formed between the powder grains in the DVC-treated samples and through the DVC process, greater carbon diffusion depth was achieved in the samples. The highest hardness increase was observed in the surface areas of the samples subjected to the DVC heat treatment, whereas the lowest increase was seen in the central zones of the DVC samples. The highest bending strength values were determined in the S + VC samples and the lowest in the DVC samples. The wear test results revealed that the highest volume loss and friction coefficient had occurred in the DS samples, whereas the S + VC and DVC treatments had significantly increased the wear resistance.

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Acknowledgements

In this study, we would like to thank the firm “DÖKSAN Heat Treatment and R&D Center” for its contributions in the application of vacuum carburizing and sintering heat treatments.

Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Nanotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Usak University, 64000, Uşak, Turkey

    Ozer Pamuk

  2. Department of Machine and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Pamukkale University, 20160, Denizli, Turkey

    Yavuz Kaplan

  3. Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Pamukkale University, 20160, Denizli, Turkey

    Engin Tan & Sinan Aksoz

Authors
  1. Ozer Pamuk
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  2. Yavuz Kaplan
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  3. Engin Tan
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  4. Sinan Aksoz
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Contributions

OP was involved in conceptualization, methodology, investigation, resources, formal analysis, writing—original draft, data curation; YK helped in investigation, writing—original draft, formal analysis, data curation; ET contributed to investigation, writing—original draft, formal analysis; SA was involved in conceptualization, methodology, investigation, resources, formal analysis.

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Correspondence to Ozer Pamuk.

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All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Pamuk, O., Kaplan, Y., Tan, E. et al. The Effect of Vacuum Carburizing on the Mechanical and Wear Properties of Fe–C–Cu Composite Materials Produced via Powder Metallurgy. Arab J Sci Eng 47, 16305–16317 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-022-06875-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-022-06875-6

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