Diffusion model for growth of Fe2B layer in pure iron

Abstract

A simple diffusion model is proposed to estimate the growth kinetics of Fe2B layers created at the surface of pure iron. This model employs the mass balance equation at the Fe2B/substrate interface to evaluate the boron diffusion coefficient (DFe2B) in the boride layer. The Fe2B layers were formed using the paste boriding process, at four temperatures with different exposure times. Analysing the results, the evolution of the parabolic growth constant (k) of the Fe2B layer is presented as a function of boron concentration and boride incubation time [t0(T)]. Furthermore, the instantaneous velocity of the Fe2B/substrate interface and the weight gain of borided pure iron were estimated for different boriding temperatures. Finally, to validate the diffusion model, the boride layer thicknesses were predicted and experimentally verified for two boriding temperatures and for different treatment times.