LAUSR

In this study, the effect of microwave heating on boride formation and diffusion kinetics in 316L stainless steel alloys was investigated. Boriding was carried out in microwave furnace with 2.9 kW power and 2.45 GHz frequency. Four different boriding temperatures (800, 850, 900 and 950 °C) were used. Boriding was performed for 2, 4 and 6 h for each temperature. Boron layer thicknesses of boride layers were determined by optical microscope. SEM images were taken from the cross sections of the borided samples. Boron activation energy was determined as 244.15 kJ/mol in microwave environment. Two times thicker boride layer was obtained by microwave boriding process compared to the conventional heating process. The mechanical properties of the boride layers formed by microwave boriding (Young’s modulus, hardness, yield strength, residual thermal stress) were determined by nanoindentation tests.