Технические науки/Металлургия

Zhiguts Yu.Yu., Legeta Ya.P., Prjadko S.I.

Uzhgorod National University, Ukraine

 

COMBINED TREATMENT WITH THE HELP OF LASER SURFACE HARDENING AND SELF-PROPAGATING HIGT-TEMPERATURE SYNTHESIS

 

The laser surface hardening (LSH) of metals was discovered in 1965. It has won strong positions in technology of metals [1]. Nowadays in the whole world hundreds of patents have been awarded to branch inventions including those dealing with combination of LSH with SHS (self-propagating high-temperature synthesis). One of them [2] is dedicated to combining of LSH (Laser Surface Hardening) with SHS (self-propagation g high-temperature synthesis) [1]. Formerly SHS was combined with other technologies of surface hardening of components [1-3].

The impotent problem within the LSH is the decreasing of the losses of beam energy because of its reflection by the surface of metal under machining. In the given investigation, as well as in the invention [1], the mixture of powders Ti (65%), carbon in black state (18%) and Fe (14% by mass) were used in the role of light-absorbing paint. The mixture was damped by solution of 2 % latex in gasoline, and then it was put on the surface of stalls of mark 10 and 20 and was dried in an open air, forming the layer 80, 200 or 500 mkm thick. Thermochemical calculations showed that in such a mixture practically all Ti interacts, thanks to non oxygen combustion, with carbon, forming the carbide TiC. The seer plus of carbon and very small account of Ti alloy the iron forming liquid steel of condition, which under fast cooling turns into troostite in layers of 80 mkm thick.

In typical microstructure of metal in cross-cut of harded layer got under density og power 17 W·m-2, diameter of spot − 0,4 mm, the speed of scanning 12 min/s and expense of argon (for the defense of Ti from air oxidation) − 0,5 l/s is shown. The thickness of alloy is ~500mkm. This layer consists of ~50% particles TiC and ~50%(by volume) of metal link-instrumental carbon steel of type “У8”.

The investigations made have proved that the microhardness of carbides TiC is higher than the hardness of steel almost 10 times. Thus, in the given work we managed to organize the SHS process in comparatively thin layer thanks to using of LSH technology simultaneously for solving of two tasks: for heating, flashing and carbonating of an iron; for flashing Ti particles and its combustion in carbon with forming of carbides TiC.

This reaction is strongly exothermic and is accompanied by great decreasing of Hibbs free energy:

ΔGº=-183,0246+0,01008T kJ·mol-1, T=298−1155 K;

ΔGº=-186,9709+0,01325T kJ·mol-1, T=1155−2000 K.

The adiabatic temperature of non oxygen comeestion of equiatomic mixture Ti-C equals to 3200 K. The real temperature of combustion of selected mixture 68% (% in mass particles) is more than 1850 K that provides the formation of hard-liquid dross (TiC-melding) with the large interval liquids solid us. The formation of dross instead of one-phase alloy influences positively on the quality of surface of hardened layer after its full growing hard and cooling as well as on supporting of this layer even on inclined planes.

It is important to note that in the mentioned non oxygen combustion none of non metallic phase and its including is formed. Welding of hardened layer with basic metal is obtained automatically metallurgic ally, excluding the necessity of soldering or other methods of connecting one alloy (e.g. instrumental) with other (e.g. with the basis of cutting tool).

The substitution of a part of iron powder by the powder of carbon ferrochrome (e.g. 12%Fe+2%FeCr instead of 14%Fe in the formulae of SHS mixture) allows to get layers of carbidosteel with the link not in the shape of steel “У8” but from alloyed steel “X12” which after fast cooling of these layers thanks to accelerated drain of heat to cold metal of the basis gets austenite-martensite-carbide structure. In the process of work of the instrument such metal link additionally grows hard thanks to pre-transforming of austenite into martensite and getting older of the later one. The hard of such a carbidosteel reaches HV1400 (14000MPa).

The substitution of a part of iron in the SHS-mixture by ferrochrome increases greatly corrosion resistance of carbidosteel and decreases its oxidizing wear in the process of its exploitation. The substitution of carbon in SHS-mixtures by the powder is also long-range. The same effect is obtained also with the substitution in another field of hot machining of metals namely the using of SHS-reactions for inmoulding process (modification within of the form) in casting manufacturing.

The substitution of carbon in SHS-mixtures by the powder of boron is also perspective. In such a case it is possible to reach the liquidus-solidus interval to 1500 K, that in other technologies it is practically impossible to meet. Thus, while the above mentioned method on the one hand high refractory diborides TiB2 and CrB2 (with high hardness) are formed and, on the other hand, very easily melted complex eutectics are formed.

Conclusions: 1. Combination of LSH and SHS in one operation allows to solve the whole complex of technical problems connected with producing of materials with high hardness like carbidosteels and hard alloys on metal surface. 2. Evolution of inner chemical heat in SHS-mixtures allows to decrease the power of laser radiation. 3. New complex technological process allows to build up wearied surfaces of parts of machines and devices to the high of 0,5 mm.

References: 1. Жуков А.А., Жигуц Ю.Ю., Шилина Е.П. Комбинированная поверхностная обработка лазерным поверхностным упрочнением и самораспространяющимся высокотемпературным синтезом// Изв. ВУЗов. Черная металлургия. М. 1998. №5. − С. 6063.

2. Жуков А.О., Жигуц Ю.Ю., Шиліна Е.П. Комбінована обробка за допомогою лазерного по-верхневого зміцнення і саморозповсюджувального високотемпературного синтезу// Науковий вісник УжНу. Серія Фізика. № 10. Ужгород. 2001. − С. 31–34.

3. Жигуц Ю.Ю. Сплави, синтезовані металотермією і СВС-процесами. Ужгород: Ґражда, 2008. − 276 с.