THE IRON BORIDE WEAR-RESISTANT LAYERS ON CONSTRUCTIONAL C45 STEEL, MODIFIED BY CHROMIUM AND THE LASER PROCESS

摘要

The paper presents the influence of diffusional boronizing, borochromizing processes, and laser modification on microstructure, microhardness, and frictional wear resistance of C45 constructional steel. The borochromizing process consists of two stages: first the boronizing was applied, and then chromizing was carried out as a second step. The boronizing was performed at 900°C for 4h, and then chromizing at 1020°C for 7h using the gas-contact method in powder containing amorphous boron and ferrochrome. Then, the boronized and borochromized layer was modified by remelting it using a TRUMPH CO_2 2600W-power laser. The microstructure after diffusional boronizing and borochromizing consists of needle-like iron borides with a thickness of 80 μm and 100 μm and with a microhardness of 1400 HV0.1-1850 HV0.1. Three zones are formed after laser modification: the remelted zone MZ (eutectic mixture of borides and martensite) with a thickness of 100-120 μm, a martensitic heat affected zone (HAZ), and the core. The microhardness in the remelted zone is approx. 1200 HV0.1, as a result of which there appears a milder hardness gradient between the surface and the core. It was found that the frictional wear resistance of the boride layers modified by chromium and laser is higher than that of the layers after diffusional boronizing.