Thermal diffusion chromium plating of structural carbon steel 20 by high frequency currents

Abstract

To increase the service life of the gear teeth made of steel 20, operating under high shock loads, their main surfaces were subjected to high-temperature diffusion metallization, namely, chromium plating with high-frequency currents. As a result of diffusion metallization, the surface hardness increased 5.1–5.4 times – from 156–159 HV to 800–866 HV, and the strength level 3.3 times – from 250 to 820 mAh. Optimal parameters for the diffusion metallization: current I = 0.25–0.3 kA, power Pe = 8–10 kW, hardening τ = 8–10 min. By the method of scanning electron microscopy, it was found that after diffusion saturation of the surface of the gear teeth with chromium, the steel has a homogeneous structure with clearly pronounced transition layers, the average thickness of the diffusion layer was 0.06 mm. Energy dispersive analysis showed that after diffusion metallization with chromium powder, the basic composition of the steel remained constant, only the qualitative ratio of the components changed. X-ray phase analysis revealed the presence of an αFe-phase with the incorporation of Cr on the surface of the sample.