Boroning of AISI 5630 bims mold and investigation of effects of boroning process on increasing mold life

In this study, a pumice mold prepared with dimensions of 168x176x24 cm using AISI 5630 steel was subjected to a boronizing process with the box segmentation method. After the boronizing process, the samples were placed in the crucible, and the molds were subjected to optical microscopy, microhardness, SEM, EDX, Mapping, and XRD analyses. At the same time, the pumice molds on which the boronizing process was performed were used in the production of pumice in a real environment. As a result of optical microstructure studies, the boronizing layer thickness was observed to be 112 microns on average at 950 C, while it was observed to be 119.5 microns after the boronizing process carried out at 1000 C for 4 hours. As a result of microhardness measurements taken from the surfaces of the samples on which the boronizing process was performed, an average of 2590 HV hardness values ​​were obtained in the sample boronized at 950 oC, and an average of 3177 HV hardness values ​​were obtained in the sample boronized at 1000 oC. As a result of SEM microstructure studies, it was observed that after the boronizing process was carried out at 950 C and 1000 C for 4 hours, a very homogeneous boronizing layer was formed, and at the same time, the boronizing layer exhibited a toothed form towards the primary material. Again, depending on the controlled cooling rate, it was determined that the primary material microstructure was ferrite + pearlitic. As a result of EDX and Mapping analysis data, the fact that the Fe and B elements were dense in the boronizing layer supported the conclusion that the formed layer was a boride layer. As a result of XRD analysis, it was concluded that the layer formed on the steel surface was the F2B phase at both temperatures. This situation also supports the SEM and EDX analysis results. As a result of testing the pumice molds in their real environment after the boronizing process, a maximum of 353,000 prints were reached in the boronizing process carried out at 1000 C for 4 hours.