Nanomechanical Characterization of Iron Borides in Fe-Mn-B Ternary Alloys

Abstract

Nanomechanical properties of iron borides, FeB and Fe2B were studied in Fe-Mn-B ternary alloys. The alloys were produced by arc melting method using high purity powders, which were subsequently annealed at temperature of 873 K and 1223 K, until fully equilibrated for a time period of 2160 hours and 1440 hours, respectively. Based on results obtained from experimental study and thermodynamic modeling of Fe-Mn-B system the solubility of Mn in these borides was determined. For the purpose of this study the influence of heat treatment temperature, as well as, the solubility of Mn in these borides on their nanomechanical properties is investigated. Nanomechanical properties, including determination of indentation modulus and hardness were measured using nanoindentation testing machine equipped with Berkovich type diamond indenter. The indentation process was carried out using an indentation depth controlled method, to a maximum depth of 500 nm.

The Influence of the Third Element on Nano-Mechanical Properties of Iron Borides FeB and Fe2B Formed in Fe-B-X (X = C, Cr, Mn, V, W, Mn + V) Alloys

“…Iron (Fe) took over the greatest proportion of metallic elements in all borides in the Mn alloys under study here, with exception to 22 Fe-39 B-39 Mn (alloy 9) and 22 Fe-39 B-39 Mn (alloy 10), where manganese (Mn) was the dominant element (Table 1). Additional information for Fe-B-Mn alloys are given in the studies by Repovsky et al [39] and Kirkovska et al [49].…”