A New Method of Carburizing the Surface of Steel Products Using a Special Paste by Argon Arc Welding
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The paper proposes a new method for surface hardening of steel products using argon arc welding and carburizing pastes based on welding flux and graphite powder. Various compositions of pastes are studied, varying the ratio of components in order to optimize the structure and properties (hardness) of the surface layer. The microstructures, chemical composition and hardness of the deposited layer are analyzed. It is found out that optimal paste compositions ensure the formation of carbide structures in the surface layer, which significantly increases hardness. The greatest efficiency is achieved when using pastes with high graphite content, where a finely dispersed structure is formed with a uniform distribution of reinforcing carbide phases. The hardness of the surface layer reaches 49 HRC, which makes the proposed technology promising for use in mechanical engineering. The developed method is superior to traditional hardening methods such as chemical heat treatment, in particular, carburization, due to the faster formation of hardening high-carbon phases. A patent of the Russian Federation is obtained for the developed paste composition for a new method of carburization. The proposed method of surface carburization can be used to harden parts subjected to high loads and wear, which contributes to an increase in their performance and service life of parts. The study objective: to develop a new method for carburizing the surface of steel products by means of argon arc welding using carburizing pastes and to optimize the composition of the paste developed to ensure an optimal surface layer structure. The task: to develop a new method for carburizing the surface of steel products by argon-arc welding using special carburizing pastes to increase the hardness and operational properties of the surface layer of steel parts. Research methods: 1) Preparation of pastes from welding flux and graphite; 2) Argon arc welding of steel samples; 3) Analysis of microstructure, hardness and chemical composition; 4) Quality control of the reinforced layer. The novelty of the work: 1) A new method of hardening using argon arc welding and special pastes. 2) Optimized paste compositions ensure surface carburization during argon arc welding and, as a result, high hardness. 3) The technology is faster and more efficient than traditional methods of carburization, which can be presented as an alternative to the proposed method. The study results: 1) Carburizing pastes of compositions No.3-No.5 presented in the paper ensure the production of carbide structures with high hardness; 2) The highest hardness (49 HRC) is achieved with paste No.5 containing graphite powder and welding flux in a ratio of 80/20%; 3) The absence of defects as various discontinuities in the deposited layer. Conclusion: The developed argon arc welding method for carburizing the surface of steel parts using special pastes is effective for hardening steel products, its use ensures high hardness of the surface layer of parts.
Source: Transport engineering
Authors: Konstantin Makarenko, Aleksandr Vdovin, Aleksandr Ukrinchev, Denis Savinov, Murat Baydimirov, Natalia Dmitrieva
Institution: Bryansk State Technical University
Language: English
Subfield: Metals and Alloys
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4411308554