Main Article Content
Assessment of the Efficacy of Some Carbonate Minerals as Energizers in Pack Carburisation of Mild Steel
Abstract
The efficacy of some carbonate minerals (marble, limestone and dolomite) as energizers in pack-caburisation of mild steel has been compared with that of barium carbonate. Mild steel samples were pack-carburised for suitable lengths of time at 9000C in carburising compounds containing charcoal plus varying amounts (up to a maximum of 20%) of BaCo3 and/or either marble, limestone or dolomite as energizers. The resultant carburisation depths obtained with different compounds were compared by means of hardness measurements using a microhardness testing .machine. The results showed that BaC03 can almost be completely substituted with marble or limestone, and that a combination of BaC03 and marble was a more effective energizer than solely Baco3; whereas dolomite was the least effective energizer. The deepest and best3defined case was obtained with a combination of 15% marble and 5% BaC03.