Effect of boron on the hardenability of high-purity alloys and commercial steels

Abstract

A study was made of the action of boron in relation to the hardenability of high-purity alloys varying in carbon content. The effectiveness of boron in enhancing the hardenability of these alloys and certains steels is believed to be due to its action in retarding the rate of nucleation of ferrite and carbide while in solid solution in austenite. The hardenability of the boron-treated alloys, as determined in terms of the critical cooling rate of small specimens austenitized at a wide range of temperature, varied with the prior history and with carbon content.