Effect of powder mixture mechanical activation on structure and properties of modified layers

The paper investigates the effect of the preliminary mechanical activation of boron- and chromium-containing powder mixtures on the structure and mechanical properties of modified layers deposited onto the chromium-nickel 0.12C-18Cr-9Ni-Ti austenitic steel surface using non-vacuum electron-beam surfacing. The mechanical activation of powder mixtures provides the formation of chromium borides with the mean particle size of 10 to 20 µm, resulting in the better quality of modified surface layers. The thickness of synthesized layers is 2 times higher than layers obtained by electron-beam surfacing without the preliminary mechanical activation of powder mixtures. The surface layer microhardness is also 2 times higher than in the 0.12C-18Cr-9Ni-Ti stainless steel.