Fe2B coating on ASTM A-36 steel surfaces and its evaluation of hardness and corrosion resistance

In the present study, the effects on hardness and resistance to corrosion by boride coating on steel ASTM A-36 are reported. This steel is widely used in the metal-mechanical and petrochemical industries. Boronizing thermochemical treatment was carried out employing different temperatures and time periods. Boride formation was verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicating only the formation of the Fe2B phase. The hardness of samples subject to the boride process increases up to 4.5 times compared with that of the un-boride sample. Despite its porosity, boronized monophase steel showed a higher corrosion resistance than that of unboronized steel. •The boride coatings were made up of Fe2B phase with no FeB phase.•Samples boronized at 900°C for 6h exhibit a crisp and brittle structure.•Samples boronized at 900°C for 4h is as high as 1006.8HV.•Samples boronized at 900°C for 4h has a boride layer thickness of 232nm•The optimal condition for borozining A-36 carbon steel is 900°C for 4h.