A Multi-Method Analysis of Carburized Materials: Accurately Measuring the Carbon Gradient and Comparisons to Physical Characteristics

Carburization is a common method of hardening steel surfaces to be wear-resistant for a wide range of mechanical processes. One critical characteristic of the carburization process is the increase in carbon content that leads to the formation of martensite in the surface layer. Combustion and spark-OES are two common methods for determination of carbon in steels. However, these techniques do not effectively separate carbon from near surface contaminants, carburized layers, and base material composition. Careful consideration of glow discharge spectroscopy as a method of precisely characterizing carbon concentration in surface layers as part of a production process should be evaluated in terms of how the resulting data align with other common analytical and metallurgical measurements. When used together, glow discharge spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and microhardness testing are all useful, complementary techniques for characterizing the elemental composition, visually observable changes in material composition, and changes in surface hardness throughout the hardened case, respectively. Close agreement between related measurements can be used to support the use of each of these techniques as part of a strong quality program for heat treatment facilities.

Effect of Inorganic Filler Addition on Non-Combustible and Mechanical Properties of Color Coated Steel Sheets

Recent large-scale fires in buildings and logistic warehouses have become a major social issue, involving both property loss and multiple casualties. To make color coated steel sheets non-combustible and/or have anti-fire properties, various ways of optimizing manufacturing parameters have been investigated for outer, inner, roof and ceiling panels. In the present study, the effect of inorganic filler content and size on the non-combustible and mechanical properties of color coated steel sheets has been investigated using samples prepared as pre-painted coating materials. Both salt spray corrosion and chemical resistance tests were also carried out. Filler distribution and size were measured by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and glow discharge spectroscopy, and found to be critical factors affecting non-combustible performance. As the amount of added filler increased, the non-combustible property of the color coated steel sheets improved, while mechanical properties, corrosion resistance by salt spray and chemical resistances deteriorated. During 3t-bending tests, the adhesive strength at the interface between coated layer and hot dip galvanized steel sheets was rather strong, although the filler-added upper coated layer was mostly peeled off. The mechanical properties of 30% filler addition samples were compared to samples with less than 20% filler addition. The main reason for the poorer performance was clarified in terms of filler size and crack propagation in the 3t-bended color coated layer.

Effects of Tungsten Addition on Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Carbon Nitride Prepared by DC Magnetron Sputtering

Carbon nitride coatings doped with tungsten were deposited on high speed steel disks by unbalanced DC magnetron sputtering using nitrogen-argon mixture gas. The coatings were deposited on three different types of interlayer (Ti, Ti/TiN and Ti/TiC), and the tungsten target current was varied from 0 to 0.9 A. Surface morphology of the coatings were measured by roughness testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the chemical composition and depth profile were analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and glow discharge spectroscopy (GDS). Finally, the hardness (H) and elasticity (E) were measured by nanoindentation and a Rockwell indentation test, while the tribological properties were tested using a pin-on-disk tribometer. After all, the coatings were measured by cutting testing of tuning inserts and micro-drillers. It is found that all of the coatings are amorphous and have a thickness of approximately 1.5 μm. Moreover, the nitrogen content is around 30 at%, while the tungsten content varies in the range of 0-9 at%. In addition, the hardness values are in the range of 15-20 GPa and the elasticity varies from 236 to 274 GPa. A good correlation is observed between the wear resistance and the indentation adhesion level. Furthermore, it is found that the hardness is not significantly correlated to the tungsten content and the coatings deposited on the Ti/TiC interlayer have greater adhesion. Finally, the coatings generally have a very low coefficient of friction (0.01-0.3) and a wear coefficient as low as 10-6 mm3/Nm, and the CN/TiC coating reduced 41% and 43% of flank wear in the cutting testing of turning inserts and micro-drillers respectively.

TDS Measurement of Hydrogen Released from Stainless Steel Oxidized in H2O-Containing Atmospheres

Hydrogen dissolved in the Cr2O3 scale formed on the stainless steel in the H2O-containing atmospheres is observed by TDS (thermal desorption spectroscopy) measurements. The amount of dissolved hydrogen in the Cr2O3 scale reaches a maximum about 0.32 mol% when the H2O concentration in the gas reaches 20%. It was found from GDS (glow discharge spectroscopy) measurements that hydrogen may exist at the oxide scale / substrate interface or in Cr2O3 scale bounded that interface. However, results from the Vickers hardness and the observation of scale morphology by SEM (scanning electron microscopy), hydrogen dissolved in the Cr2O3 scale would have little effect on a decrease in the mechanical property of the Cr2O3 scale. Therefore, hydrogen dissolved in the Cr2O3 scale may not be main factor of the deterioration of the Cr2O3 scale.