Surface hardening of low-carbon martensitic steels by boronizing

Abstract

A large group of low-carbon martensitic steels developed recently possesses some advantages that make them widely applicable in the industry. The main merit of these steels consists in the possibility of deformation-free quenching in air and welding in a nonheat-treated state. These features are accompanied by a deep hardenability and high strength characteristics of the products and semiproducts. However, when these steels are used to produce parts operating under the conditions of contact friction their surface hardness and wear resistance should be increased. Since such steels are relatively novel, the methods of their surface hardening are still being developed. The present work is devoted to determining the possibility of optimizing the process of diffusion boronizing of carbon martensitic steels.