EFFECT OF RARE EARTH CeCl3 ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND ADHESION OF BORIDE LAYER FOR AISI H13 STEEL

10.25712/ASTU.1811-1416.2023.04.015

Abstract

In this study, AISI H13 steel was subjected to rare earth composite boronizing using the paste boronizing process. The structure and morphology of the boride layer were analyzed, and its hardness and interface adhesion were tested. The results indicate that the RE-boride layer exhibits a dense sawtooth morphology with minimal pores. Compared to the boride layer without the addition of CeCl₃, the thickness of the RE-boride layer increased from 53.7 μm to 66.3 μm. Furthermore, the rare earth composite boride layer demonstrated a hardness ranging from 1200-1700 HV, with a gentle hardness gradient. In the adhesion test, there was only slight detachment of the rare earth boride layer, suggesting that rare earth elements effectively reduce the brittleness of the boride layer and enhance its interface adhesion.