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The study is devoted to pack-powder boriding of ASTM A709 steel in a powder mixture containing boron carbide, potassium fluoroborate and silicon carbide. This surface hardening process is conducted between 1123 and 1273 K for from 2 to 8 h. The formed diiron boride layers are studied by different techniques (scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES), Vickers microhardness testing, surface profilometry, Rockwell-C indentation cohesion and pin-on-disc tests). Kinetically, an integral-method-based approach is applied to calculate the boron diffusivities in Fe2B. The activation energy of the process is deduced and compared to reported data. The same model is ultimately verified by comparing the empirical values of the thickness of the Fe2B layers obtained at 1223 K and 1273 K for 9 h and the predicted values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, the powder-pack boriding was applied to the AISI 12L14 steel in the temperature range 1123 K to 1273 K for an exposure time between 2 and 8 hours. The produced boride layer was composed of Fe2B with a sawtooth morphology. A diffusion model based on the integral method was applied to investigate the growth kinetics of Fe2B layers. As a main result, the boron diffusion coefficients in Fe2B were estimated by considering the principle of mass balance at the (Fe2B/substrate) interface with an inclusion of boride incubation times. The value of activation energy for boron diffusion in AISI 12L14 steel was estimated as 165 kJ mol−1 and compared with other values of activation energy found in the literature. An experimental validation of the present model was made by using four different boriding conditions. Furthermore, the Rockwell-C adhesion test was employed to assess the cohesion of boride layers to the base metal. The scratch and pin-on-disc tests were also carried out to analyze the effect of boriding on wear behavior of AISI 12L14 steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]