AIP Conference Proceedings

In this study, we investigated some properties of bonded AISI 1020 steel. Boronizing heat treatment was carried out at 800 degrees C, 875 degrees C and 950 degrees C for 2, 4, 6 and 8 h using Ekabor 1 powders. The hardness of borides formed on the steel substrate measured via Vickers indenter was about 1500 HVN. The thickness of boride layers depending on the process temperature and time was ranged from 20.5 to 216 pm. The presence of Fe2B boride was determined by XRD analysis. SEM microscope studies showed that the borides formed on the AISI 1020 steel have columnar nature. Kinetics studies reveal a parabolic relationship between layer depth and process time, and the activation energy is calculated as 164,356 kJ/mol. Moreover, an attempt was made to investigate the possibility of predicting the iso-thickness of boride layer and to establish an empirical relationship between process parameters of bonding and boride layer for industrial applications