Dry and Wet Abrasion Wear Resistance on Borided AISI 1045 Steel

In this study, the abrasion wear behavior of borided AISI 1045 steel under dry and wet conditions was evaluated. The powder-pack boriding process (PPBP) was carried out at 1223 K with 8 and 10 h of exposure using EKabor-II boride powder for dry and wet abrasion tests. A biphasic layer composed of FeB and Fe₂B was obtained over the surface of the AISI 1045 steel with a thickness of ~ 265 and ~ 304 μm for 8 and 10 h, respectively. Afterwards, when the PPBP was accomplished, the diffusion annealing process (DAP) was carried out at 1273 K with 8 and 10 h of exposure time in a SiC medium, obtaining a monophasic layer of Fe₂B of ~ 212 μm and ~ 250 μm with 8 and 10 h, respectively. Dry and wet abrasion wear tests on PPBP, PPBP + DAP, and reference material of AISI 1018 steel were performed, considering the guidelines of the ASTM G105-16 and ASTM G65-16 standard procedures. Finally, 8 h the PPBP improves the wear rate around ~ 24 and ~ 12 times compared to the reference material, and 8 h the PPBP + DAP under dry conditions, respectively. However, 10 h the PPBP improved the wear rate around ~ 23 and ~ 7 times compared to the reference material, and 10 h the PPBP + DAP under wet conditions, respectively. The main failure mechanisms over the worn tracks in both experimental conditions were smearing and spalling, as evidenced by SEM–EDS techniques.