The effect of temperature distribution and cooling rate on microstructure and microhardness of laser re-melted and laser-borided carbon steels with various carbon concentrations

Abstract

Laser heat treatment was arranged as a laser remelting and laser boriding. Materials with different carbon concentration were used. Three zones characterized the microstructure after laser treatment: re-melted zone (MZ), heat-affected zone (HAZ) and substrate material. The differences in carbon content and physical properties of used materials influenced the obtained microstructure, temperature distribution and hardness. In case of laser re-melted specimens, the limited martensite transformation proceeded only in C20, C45 and C90 steels. As a result of laser boriding the microstructure of MZ contained additionally iron borides. The specimens with higher dilution ratio value were characterized by higher hardness of re-melted zone. The aim of this study was to indicate the possibility of predicting the microstructure and depths of MZ and HAZ with the usage of Ashby and Esterling model. The influence of carbon concentration in steel on the thickness, dilution ratio and hardness of laser-borided layers was determined.