Characterization of boriding of 0.3% C, 0.02% P plain carbon steel

In the present study, some mechanical properties of borides formed on the impurity-controlled plain carbon steel essentially containing 0.3% C, 0.02% P in weight was investigated. The formation of borides on the concerned steel was performed in a bath having borax, boric acid and ferro-silicon at 940 °C for various length of time between 1/2 and 10 h. Optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies revealed that borides formed on the surface of steel substrate have columnar morphology. The hardness of borides is higher than 1500 DPN. The presence of borides (FeB and Fe2B) was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.