INVESTIGATION OF MICROSTRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBURIZED GENERAL CONSTRUCTION STEEL

Abstract

In this study, the effect of surface hardening on microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated by applying box carburizing (cementation) process to samples produced from unalloyed St37 steel, known as structural steel. In the experiment, the samples, which took place at 2 different temperatures at 800 ºC and 930 ºC, were kept in the oven with coal dust in the box for 3, 5 and 10 hours for cementation, with the mouth tightly closed. By examining the microstructure of the cemented samples, the coating thicknesses, hardness changes by making hardness tests, and the amount of wear were examined by performing abrasion tests. As a result of the vickers method hardness tests, it was revealed that the highest hardness values were found in the sample that was cemented for 10 hours at 930 ºC. As a result of the wear tests, 10N and 20N loads were applied to the sample, and the wear amount of the wear device on the material was found by traveling 100 m at a stroke distance of 10 mm. As a result of the wear tests, the applied cementation time and the wear loss are inversely proportional, while the cementation temperature value is inversely proportional to the wear loss. It has been determined that the applied load and the wear loss are directly proportional.