Papers by Author: N. López-Perrusquia

Abstract: This paper studies the formation of iron boride on the surface in ductile iron 100-70-03 class exposed to a thermochemical treatment boron dehydrated paste. The formation of iron boride layers Fe₂B/FeB-type were obtained at temperatures of 1173 K, 1223 K and 1273 K, with exposure times of 8 hours of treatment. The study consisted in evaluating the growth kinetics of the boride layer on the surface of ductile iron boriding. Also the boride layers were determined by the XRD method, EDS. Also evaluated fracture toughness technique Vickers microindentation 15 and 30 microns from the surface with different loadings of iron boride microindentation formed on the surface.

Abstract: Some physicochemical and mechanical properties of surface hard coatings obtained by the paste-boriding process are summarized in this work. Different grades of borided ferrous alloys were used to develop the formation of surface layers type Fe2B or FeB/Fe2B. Furthermore, in order to characterize the nature of boride layers, some classical techniques are presented and discussed such as Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and estimation of residual stresses by X-Ray Diffraction method. Also, the morphology of borided interfaces was evaluated by concepts of fractal theory.

Abstract: The growth of iron borides over the surface of different steels is of high anisotropy. It was determined that the anisotropy of borided phases reveals a significant instability of properties in service. One of the techniques to determine the effect of anisotropy on the mechanical properties of boride layers is the induced-fracture by Vickers microindentation. During the present work, the fracture toughness (KC) of the Fe2B hard coatings has been estimated at the surface of AISI 4140 borided steels. The force criterion of fracture toughness was determined from the extent of brittle cracks originating at the tips of an indenter impression. The indentation loads were established between 1.9 to 9.8 N at three different distances from the borided surface. The KC values were expressed as a function of temperature, treatment time and the indentation distances from the surface. Likewise, the adherence of the coated system was evaluated by Rockwell-C indentation, where the borided steel showed sufficient adhesion.

Abstract: The fracture toughness of AISI H13 borided steel and the strength adhesion of the coated system were estimated in the present work. The formation of the layers was carried out by the powder pack boriding process at 1273 K with 8 h of treatment. The fracture toughness (KC) of the layer is estimated at 25 and 45 m from the surface using four different Vickers indentation loads. The KC values were estimated by the extension of Palmqvist cracks parallel and perpendicular to the surface obtained at the indentation corners. The adherence of the layer/substrate was evaluated in qualitative form through the Rockwell-C indentation technique. The results obtained by both techniques, show, in first instance, that the fracture toughness of the boride layer can be expressed in the form (KC) (π/2) > (KC) > (KC) (0). Also, high delamination is obtained around the Rockwell-C indentation prints that denote poor adhesion in the coating-substrate interface.

Abstract: This study evaluates the fracture toughness of Fe2B boride layers formed by the paste boriding thermochemical process on an AISI 1018 steel surface. The samples were placed in acrylic molds for the impregnation of boron carbide paste with thickness of 4mm over the sample surfaces to produce the diffusion into the steel. The aforementioned treatment considered one temperature, T= 1273 K, and three exposure times t=5, 6 and 8 h. Later, the borided samples were prepared metallographically to determine the mean values of the layer thicknesses and to produce Vickers microindentations at 45 m from the surface, applying four loads (1.9, 2.9, 4.9 and 9.8 N). The microcracks generated at the corners of the Vickers microindentation were considered as experimental parameters, which are introduced into two Palmqvist cracks models to determine their corresponding fracture toughness KC. As a result, the experimental parameters, such as exposure time and applied load are compared with the resulting fracture toughness of the borided phase.

Abstract: The boron diffusion in the Fe2B and FeB borided phases formed at the surface of AISI H13 tool steels during the paste boriding process was estimated. The treatment was carried out at temperatures of 1173, 1223 and 1273 K with 2, 4, 6 and 8 h exposure times for each temperature using a 4 mm layer thickness of boron carbide paste over the material surface. The boride layers were characterized by the GDOES technique to determine in quantitative form the presence of the alloying elements on the borided phases. The boron diffusion coefficients and were determined by the mass balance equation and the boride incubation time assuming that the boride layers obey the parabolic growth law. Also, the mass gain produced by both boride layers at the surface of the tool steels was determined. Finally, the boron diffusion coefficients were interpreted as a function of the treatment temperature, obtaining the activation energy values for the diffusion controlled growth of Fe2B and FeB hard coatings.