Performance Assessment of B/NiB-Added 316L Stainless Steel Fabricated via Microwave Hybrid Sintering
摘要
In this study, powder metallurgical (P/M) 316L stainless steels at various concentrations of boron and nickel boride addition were produced through the microwave hybrid sintering method. The roles of boron in 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5wt.% as well as nickel boride in 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0wt.% regarding the density, heating response, microstructure, and other selected properties of 316L stainless steels were assessed. The X-ray diffraction and microstructural analyses confirm the formation of eutectic boride (Ni, Fe, Cr)2B (M2B-type) with a lamellar morphology (≈ 0.5–0.6 µm) in the lower B/NiB concentration sintered samples, while it is in micro-cluster (≈ 6–7 µm) morphology in the higher concentration sintered samples. The mechanical performance of the sintered samples reveals that the best combination of maximum yield strength (355 ± 4 MPa and 344 ± 6 MPa), ductility (27 ± 0.44% and 23.3 ± 0.27%), hardness (303 ± 9 HV and 335 ± 6 HV) and minimal wear rate (19.8 ± 1.5 and 18.4 ± 0.27 mm3/Nm) is obtained for the 316L + 0.4B and 316L + 0.5NiB samples, respectively. The electrochemical corrosion studies suggest that the lower anodic-cathodic currents of about 1.04 ± 0.055 mA (CR = 26 ± 3 mm/year) and 1.82 ± 0.25 mA (CR = 46 ± 3 mm/year) are achieved for the 0.4B and 0.5NiB sintered samples, respectively. Similarly, the wear performance was improved by 75 ± 2.3% for the 0.4B- and 1NiB-sintered samples.