Modelling the phase homogenization subsequent to the boriding process

Abstract In this study, a recent approach was developed to simulate the boronizing kinetics and subsequent phase homogenization (B + PH) in AISI 1045 steel. The Taylor expansion model was employed, taking into account the boron concentration profile in each layer (FeB or Fe 2 B) as a second-order Taylor series under a transient diffusion regime. Two dimensionless constants were integrated into the model to infer the boron diffusion coefficients in FeB and Fe 2 B, and to calculate the corresponding boron activation energies. The differential equations were then adapted to simulate the phase homogenization (PH) kinetics that follows the boriding process in AISI 1045 steel. Simple relationships were derived to predict the necessary dissolution time to achieve a maximum thickness of the Fe 2 B layer. Additionally, the mass gain per unit area associated with Fe 2 B layer formation, along with its evolution during phase homogenization, was modelled based on the chosen process variables.