Growth kinetics of WC-Fe layer formed at the surface iron during solid-phase diffusion

Tungsten carbide-reinforced iron-based surface composites were prepared via in situ solid-phase diffusion method; the variables included three temperatures (1085, 1100, and 1125 °C) and four heat treatment times (15, 45, 75, and 105 min). The samples were examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Vickers hardness test. Results show that the tungsten carbide-reinforced iron-based surface composites consist of WC, α-Fe, W, and iron carbide phases, and the thickness of the WC-Fe layer ranges from 20.57±1.24 µm to 63.27±2.02 µm at 1085 °C. Furthermore, the maximum microhardness value of the WC-Fe layer at 1085 °C for 15 min is 2169 HV0.1, whereas that of the iron matrix is 239 HV0.1; such values demonstrate that the hardness of the composites are markedly enhanced. The kinetic of WC-Fe layer was analyzed by measuring the depth of pure WC layer as a function of heat treatment time and temperature. The results show a parabolic relationship between the thickness of pure WC layer and heat treatment time, and the activation energy for the pure WC layer was estimated to be 184.06 kJ mol−1.