Technology of surface hardening of teeth of excavator buckets by composite carburizing method

An innovative technology for the surface hardening of excavator bucket teeth by a composite carburizing method is proposed. The process is based on the application of a multilayer substrate consisting of AISI 321 stainless steel foil, carbon fiber, and borax (sodium tetraborate), followed by heat treatment in a controlled atmosphere. The experimental procedure involved the production of cast specimens in sand–clay molds and the application of various types of composite substrates. Results of microstructural examinations and hardness measurements demonstrated the high efficiency of the developed technology. It was established that the combined use of carbon fiber, metallic foil, and borax leads to the formation of a gradient hardened layer with a fine-grained structure, which ensures enhanced wear resistance and operational durability of the excavator bucket teeth.