The Effect of Boronizing on the Magnetization Behaviour of Low Carbon Microalloyed Steels

The change of saturation magnetization in boronized low carbon microalloyed steels was investigated as a function of boronizing time. Specimens were boronized in an electrical resistance furnace for times ranging from 3 to 9 h at 1123 K. The metallurgical and magnetic properties of the specimens were investigated using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). A boride layer with saw-tooth morphology consisting of FeB and $Fe_2B$ was observed on the surface, its thickness ranged from 63 ${\mu}m$ to 140 ${\mu}m$ depending on the boronizing time. XRD confirmed the presence of $Fe_2B$ and FeB on the surface. The saturation magnetization decreased with increasing boronizing time. This decrease was attributed to the increased thickness of the FeB and $Fe_2B$ phases. Cracks were observed at the FeB/$Fe_2B$ interfaces of the samples. The number of interfacial cracks increased with increasing boronizing time.