Boride layers are typically used to combat the wear and corrosion of metals. For this reason, to improve our knowledge of the boriding process, this research studied the effect of the size of the treated material on the kinetics of the growth of the boride layers obtained during a solid diffusion process. The purpose was to elucidate how the layers’ growth kinetics could be affected by the size of the samples since, as the amount of matter increases, the amount of energy necessary to make the process occur also increases. Furthermore, the level of activation energy seems to change as a function of the sample size, although it is considered an intrinsic parameter of each material. Six cylindrical samples with different diameters were exposed to the boriding process for three different exposure times (1.5, 3, and 5 h). The treatment temperatures used were 900, 950, and 1000 °C for each size and duration of treatment. The results show that the layer thickness increased not only as a function of the treatment conditions but also as a function of the sample diameter. The influence of the sample size on the growth kinetics of the boride layers is clear, because the growth rate increased even though the treatment conditions (time and temperature) remained constant

This work compares the tribological behavior of surface layers obtained by three different hardening processes. The layers were formed on the surface of AISI 4140 steel by applying three different thermochemical treatments. Wear resistance was evaluated using a standardized tribological machine for abrasive wear, according to the limits established by the ASTM G65 “Standard Test Method for Measuring Abrasion Using Dry Sand/Rubber Wheel Apparatus”. According to the results, the boride layers exhibited the highest wear resistance, as compared to nitrided and carburized layers. In contrast, the carburized layers presented the highest loss of volume. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the worn surfaces to examine the wear mechanisms. Abrasive wear was identified in all the samples, as the main abrasive wear mechanism. The mean values of the coefficient of friction (CoF) of the hardened surfaces were 0.39, 0.55, and 0.65 for carburizing, nitriding, and boriding samples, respectively, indicating that the wear process may not always be related to a low CoF. The results suggest that the highest hardness is normally associated with high wear resistance, but the coefficient of friction could be not directly related to the hardness of the materials. Finally, a statistical study demonstrates the random nature of the layers obtained by three different hardening processes.

The mechanical performance of API 5L grade B steel, after undergoing a thermochemical boriding process, was assessed. We quantified the boride layer microhardness over cross-section specimens, with the aim of characterizing the mechanical resistance under different conditions. The pipeline steel was analyzed because of the changes in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and ductility after treatment with boron. These oil and gas pipelines must work in aggressive environments, so borided pipeline steel specimens were tested to assess their erosion–corrosion resistance. Another important characteristic to evaluate was the wearing resistance, because the pipelines tend to suffer scratches when they are under construction. We also present a discussion of the results of the total research work (Part I and Part II), including the results of the boride layer characterization as well as the changes in the substrate, with the goal of selecting the best conditions under which to treat pipeline steel. More extreme treatment conditions can help to form more stable and resistant boride layers, but they can considerably modify some mechanical characteristics of the API 5L grade B steel. For this reason, the boriding treatment conditions must be chosen in a synergistic way.

This study examines the formation of hard layers containing Ni-B and Cr-B on the surface of 80/20 nickel–chromium alloy. The work evaluates the mechanical properties of the boride layers using instrumented nanoindentation. In addition, the growth kinetics of the coatings were assessed by applying a kinetic model that relates the layer thickness with the experimental parameters of temperature and treatment time. First, the boride layers were achieved using the powder-pack boriding process in a conventional furnace. The treatment time was set at 2, 4, and 6 h at temperatures of 900, 950, and 975 °C, respectively. The microstructure of the layers was analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The thickness of the layers showed a closed correlation with the experimental parameters of time and temperature, and was established between 38.97 and 156.49 µm for 2 h to 900 °C and for 6 h to 975 °C, respectively. The hardness and Young’s modulus values agree with those presented in the literature for boriding nickel alloys, being in the range of 1.3 GPa on average and 240 to 270 GPa, respectively. The resulting layers exhibited a characteristic diffusion zone where the hardness values decrease gradually without the typical high hardness gradient observed on borided steels.

Although the use and promotion of renewable energies have increased in recent years, it is evident that the use of fossil fuels such as oil and gas continues to be of great importance. Likewise, pipelines are widely recognized as the most reliable and profitable means of transportation for liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons. Nevertheless, due to the nature of hydrocarbons, oil and gas pipelines are continually exposed to deterioration by corrosion and mechanical damage. In this context, this research focuses on the improvement of the surface properties of API 5L grade B pipeline steel by applying a surface hardening process. Samples of an API 5L grade B pipeline steel were exposed to boriding to form a layer of high hardness (from 2.60 GPa for the non-treated material to 14.12 GPa for the samples exposed to 1000 °C for 6 h). The treatment time was set at 2, 4, and 6 h, at temperatures of 850, 900, 950, and 1000 °C. Due to the saw-tooth morphology of the layers and the random nature of the process, it was possible to fit their thicknesses to a probability density function in all the experimental conditions. The crystalline structure of the layers was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and the morphology was observed using SEM and optical microscopy. The layer’s thickness ranged between 26.6 µm to 213.9 µm showing a close relationship with the experimental parameters of time and temperature. Finally, it is studied the changes undergone in the pipeline steel after the thermochemical process, observing an increase in the grain size as a function of the temperature.