Evaluation of microstructures and wear properties of duplex boride coatings

Abstract

To improve wear behaviour of AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel, duplex surface treatments, including borochromising, borotitanising or borovanadising, were carried out using the pack cementation method. Chromising, titanising and vanadising treatments were performed at 1050°C for 4 h and then boriding was carried out on all pretreated specimens at 1000°C for 6 h. Optimum properties have been evaluated in borochromised samples, especially in respect to their surface hardness and wear resistance. Examination of the worn surfaces shows that the oxidation fatigue wear mechanism is predominant on wear failure of coated samples.