Materials for Gas-Thermal Spraying, Obtained by Diffusion Alloying from Powders Based on Austenitic Steels

The article presents experimental studies of composite powder materials for plasma spraying, obtained by the method of diffusion doping of powder materials based on austenitic steels. It is indicated that the main factors forming the diffusion layer on a powder material are a composition of the required saturating medium, treatment temperature and duration of chemical and thermal exposure. Creation of single-phase diffusion layers is possible only in the case of a minimum level of temperature-time characteristics during heat treatment. This is also facilitated by the use of media with a low concentration of boron and introduction of additives inhibiting saturation process (such as carbon, aluminum, silicon) into a saturating mixture of powder. Structure and composition of powders have been thoroughly investigated with the help of X-ray microanalysis that has made it possible to study location of elements contributing to powder alloying and micro-durametric characteristics. A component of high-boride phase is increasing due to higher degree of powder material alloying. Significant changes in phase composition, as well as the chemical one, are noticeable in diffusion processing of the following alloyed powder materials: РR-Х18N9, РR-Х18N10, РR-Х18N15. Free carbon being displaced by boride into a transition zone creates dispersed complex carbide compounds with chromium. This is confirmed by distribution nature of carbide-forming components in a powder particle. All carbide-forming elements have characteristic concentration peaks-bursts in contrast to non-carbideforming silicon. Silicon is practically not present in the considered FeB phase and it is found only in a very small amount in the studied Fe2B phase; it is pushed aside by high-boride phases to a sublayer. The change in microhardness of the FeB and Fe2B phases under study is associated with dissolution of corresponding alloying elements in them and distortions of a crystal lattice in borides. A similar phenomenon is also characteristic for saturation while using boron or while making chemical and thermal treatment of alloyed steels, it has been noted in a number of studies. The increase in microhardness of a particle nucleus during its boriding is caused by displacement of carbon and alloying elements by growing front of boride phases. A core zone moves with an increased microhardness to a particle core while increasing temperature mode and time of boronization and up to realization of the effect with counter diffusion.