Kinetics of gas carburizing of Zr–1% Nb alloy

Keywords

Zr–1%Nb alloy, carburizing, surface layer, microstructure, weight change kinetics, microhardness, crystal lattice parameters.Zr–1%Nb alloy, carburizing, surface layer, microstructure, weight change kinetics, microhardness, crystal lattice parameters.

Cite as

Trush V. S., Pohrelyuk I. M., Luk’yanenko A. G., Kravchyshyn T. M., Fedirko V. M., Korendii V. M., and Kovalchuk I. V. Kinetics of gas carburizing of Zr–1% Nb alloy. Physicochemical Mechanics of Materials. 2023. 59(5), 104-110.

https://doi.org/10.15407/pcmm2023.05.104

Abstract

The kinetic characteristics of thin-sheet (approx. 1 mm) Zr–1%Nb alloy samples after treatment in a carbon-containing gas medium (P_Ar+C3H8= 0.106 Ра) in a wide temperature range of 650–850°С and time 1; 5 and 10 h were investigated.  The carburizing of the alloy at temperatures of 650 and 750°C occurs according to a law close to linear (n≈1), and at 850°C according to a law close to parabolic (n≈2).  The activation energy of the alloy carburizing in the temperature range of 650–850°C at the propane partial pressure = 0.018 Pa was 2.21 kJ/mol. The distribution of microhardness and structure of the near-surface layers of the alloy was shown.  The microstructure of the near-surface layers of the alloy after carburizing was determined.  The a-Zr and ZrC phase content on the alloy surface after treatment in a carbon-containing gas environment is presented.

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