In order to find the fundamental properties of the binary alloys of iron and boron free from carbon in the Fe side, investigations have been made on the microstructure, hardness, relations between transfomation and cooling rate, ageing properties and mechanical properties. The boron content of specimens ranged between 0.002% and 0.2%. The results obtained were as follows:
(1) In both cases of annealing and solution-quenching from 950° to 1200°C, the hardness increased with the boron content. The hardness solution-quenched increased with rise of the solution temperature, but above 1150°C it became nearly constant regardless of the solution temperature.
(2) In Fe-B alloys quenched from the γ-region, the transfomation point—peritectoid reaction temperature—was super-cooled and its degree increased with the boron content.
(3) Microscopic examinations after water-quenching from the γ-region showed that boron caused an accicular structure. Its hardness increased with the boron content and reached Hv 180 at 0.201%B. According to the X-ray diffraction analysis, it was shown that the accicular structure was body-centered cubic and the lattice parameter increased alone. Therefore, this structure was known to be a α-Fe lattice supersatulated with boron. The formation of this structure was closely related to cooling rates, austenitizing temperatures and boron contents.
(4) In Fe-B alloys water-quenched from 880°C in the ferrite region, a slight quench-ageing occurred at room temperature and at 100°C. In Fe-B alloys, which were 10% and 30% cold rolled, boron did not cause any strain ageing at room temperature and at 100°C.
(5) The tensile strength of Fe-B alloys annealed and solution-quenched at room temperature increased with the boron content, but their ductility was deteriorated. The Charpy impact strength decreased with the boron content, most remarkably with more than 0.05% boron.
View full abstract