Hard boride coating on iron aluminide (FeAl)

The mechanical properties of borided iron aluminide (FeAl) were investigated. Boronizing was carried out in a solid medium consisting of Ekabor powders at 940 °C for 2, 4 and 8 h. The formation of FeB on the surface of FeAl was confirmed by XRD analysis. Metallographic studies revealed an almost saw-tooth-like and compact boride layer on the FeAl. The thickness of boride layer ranged from 15 to 32 µm with standard deviation. The hardness of borided specimens decreased with the distance from the surface to the interior of the FeAl. The hardness of the boride on the FeAl ranged from 1362 to 1572 1572 HV while the hardness of the FeAl ranged from 374 to 436 436 HV. Radio Frequency-Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (RF-GDOES) allows the simultaneous measurement of the bulk composition and the depth profiles of all of the elements of interest.