Open AccessSynthesis of cubic boron nitride diffused-D2 steel surface composite by thermo-chemical diffusion process to enhance the wear resistance
Author(s) -
Harminder Singh Saggu,
Chander Prakash,
Amardeep Singh Kang,
Catalin I. Pruncu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
materials research express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.383
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2053-1591
DOI - 10.1088/2053-1591/abb10e
Subject(s) - materials science , boron nitride , composite number , scanning electron microscope , vickers hardness test , tribology , diffusion , hardness , indentation hardness , tool steel , composite material , metallurgy , delamination (geology) , tantalum carbide , microstructure , carbide , paleontology , physics , tectonics , biology , subduction , thermodynamics
The diffusion of cubic boron nitride (c-BN) on the D2 tool steel surface was investigated using a thermo-chemical process in order to enhance the tribological properties of tool steel surfaces. The c-BN was diffused on the tool steel surface applying the thermochemical diffusion process using argon controlled furnace. The effect of temperature and soaking time on the diffusion process, micro-hardness, and wear resistance were the main parameters evaluated. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to analyze the morphology and elemental composition of the as-synthesized c-BN-D2 surface composite. Here, the micro-hardness of manufactured coatings was investigated using a Vickers hardness tester. The wear resistance of surface composite was studied using a pin-on-disk apparatus. The morphological investigation revealed that c-BN was successfully diffused in the surface of tool steel in the form of white globular precipitates. The best surface hardness produced has a values of 1570 GPa. The diffused layer thickness varies between 50–90 μ m and is very dense. It has mechanical interlocking properties suitable against delamination process and wear formation. The superior performances of novel c-BN-D2 tool steel surface composite permits to extend the machine tool life, especially when is applied on the single-point cutting tools.