Kinetic investigation of AISI 304 Stainless Steel boronized in indirect heated fluidized bed furnace

Abstract

In this study, kinetic examinations on boronized AISI 304 Stainless Steel samples were described. Samples were boronized in indirect heated fluidized bed furnace consists of Ekabor 1™ boronizing agent at 1123, 1223 and 1323 K for 1,2 and 4 hours. Morphologically and typically examinations of borides formed on the surface of steel samples were studied by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). Boride layer thickness formed on the steel X5CrNi 18-10 ranges from 12 to 176 μm. The hardness of the boride layer formed on the steel X5CrNi 18-10 varied between 1709 and 2119 Hv0,1. Layer growth kinetics were analyzed by measuring the extent of penetration of FeB and Fe2B sublayers as a function of boronizing time and temperature. The kinetics of the reaction has been determined with K=Ko exp (-Q/RT) equation. Activation energy (Q) of boronized steel X5CrNi 18-10 was determined as 244 kj/mol.

Keywords

• boronizing
• AISI 304
• indirect heated fluidized bed furnace
• kinetics of boron