METALLURGICAL PROPERTIES OF STRUCTURAL BORON STEELS

A systematic investigation on the smelting of structural boron steels was made to determine the optimum conditions for deoxidation and introduction of the boron into the steel. Special final deoxidation techniques were used in the smelting process. No difficulties were noted in rolling. Tests showed that the hardness increased some with increasing boron content, but it decreased with increasing temperatures. The mechanical properties were determined. It was found that the grain size of the austenite depended on the boron content. The plastic properties, particularly impact strength. decreases with increasing boron coatent. The deoxidation of the steel with aluminum and titanium and the addition of boron as ferro-boron or ferro-boral improves the grain size and impact strength, (J.S.R.)