Composition and structure of boride layers grown on low-manganese ternary iron alloys

Abstract

Three Fe-C-Mn alloys containing 0.30, 0.60 and 1.35 wt % Mn, respectively, were laboratory cast and homogenized, borided for 4, 8 and 15 h at 850° C in contact with a B₄C-base powder mixture and then studied by using surface Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction, metallography and microhardness measurements. The boriding depth and the properties of the reaction products were determined and discussed with regard to the manganese content in the alloys. The comparison with the results previously obtained for borided Fe-C-Ni and Fe-C-Cr alloys allowed some general features to be determined with regard to the coatings which can grow on iron alloys in contact with high power boronizing media.