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A study of the behavior of boron diffusion in plain carbon steels

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Abstract

Boronizing treatment of ferrous materials has been widely employed by industry as a surface-strengthening technology for inhibition of corrosion, wear and erosion. Pack boronization using a pack composition that produces a graded boride microstructure has been studied using AISI 1018 and 1045 steels. Carbon in these alloys creates a resistance to boron diffusion because a carbon-enriched zone forms in front of the boride layen

The carbon concentration at the boride/pearlite interface was found to be as high as 3.0% in AISI 1045 steel. No significant layer phenomena could be distinguished inside the boron layer using the pack composition developed during this research. This result is significant because a graded microstructure with a continuous variation of the boron composition has been produced. Evidence developed during this study suggests that the boride layer consists of a mixture of FeB, Fe2B, and FeBx, which is probably FeB19. Analysis determined a measure of the resistance of carbon to boron diffusion at the boride/pearlite interface.

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  1. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, 501 East Saint Joseph Street, 57701-3995, Rapid City, SD, USA

    L. L. Qian & G. A. Stone

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  1. L. L. Qian
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  2. G. A. Stone
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Qian, L.L., Stone, G.A. A study of the behavior of boron diffusion in plain carbon steels. JMEP 4, 59–62 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02682706

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