Boronizing of equiatomic Fe-Cr binary alloy

Abstract

In this study, equiatomic Fe and Cr binary alloy was prepared under controlled atmosphere. The Fe-Cr alloy was coated with pack boriding method for the duration of 6 h at 800 degrees C, 900 degrees C and 1000 C. Chemical and phase content, microstructure, hardness of the formed boride layer were studied by using XRD, SEM-EDS, microhardness measurement device. Perfect adhesion of coating to substrate and formation of compact boride layer composed of Fe2B and CrB phases on the substrate were observed. The increase of temperature resulted in formation of transition zone with CrB precipitates whose amount increased with temperature. The treatment temperature resulted in increasing of main boride coating thickness. Boride layer hardness was changed between 2500 HV and 3500 HV independent from boronizing temperature.