The Effect Of Process Parameters On Microstructure And...

EFFECT OF PROCESS PARAMETERS AND Cr ADDITION ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND HARDNESS OF SURFACE MODIFIED HIGH CARBON STEEL Arun Sreenivasan1*, R. Sellamuthu2 1*DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AMRITA VISHWA VIDYAPEETHAM, COIMBATORE, 641112, arunsreeniz@gmail.com 2DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AMRITA VISHWA VIDYAPEETHAM, COIMBATORE, 641112, r_sellamuthu@cb.amrita.edu Abstract The effect of process parameters on microstructure and hardness of High Carbon Steel (HCS) surface modified with Cr has been investigated in this study. Gas Tungsten Arc (GTA) was used as the heat source for surface modification process. The Carl Zeiss metallurgical optical microscope was used for the microstructural evaluation and Vicker’s microhardness tester†¦show more content†¦Surface modification process involves melting the surface of a substrate with an appropriate heat source and allowing it to cool so that a modified layer forms upon solidification. The so formed modified layer exhibits improved surface properties which can be utilized for the industrial applications Researches were conducted on the effect of surface modification process on various steels and are as follows. Eroglu.M and Zdemir.N.O (2002) conducted a study on low carbon steel using Tungsten Inert Gas surface alloying. They showed that surface alloying increased the hardness as well as wear resistance of the alloy. Suleiman et.al. (2013) observed the effect of laser surface melting on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low carbon steel. A fine structure was observed on the laser surface melted layer and they attributed this to the fast cooling rate after surface melting. Marek (2003) investigated the Laser surface alloying of medium carbon steel and found that the cavitation erosion resistance increased due to surface alloying. Kwok.C.T et.al. (2006) observed an increase in hardness on tool steels by laser surface melting process. Shunsuke Yagi et.al. (2008) used Alternating Pulsed Electrolysis for alloying Fe-Cr to the carbon steel surface. Dyuti.S et.al. (2010) obse rved an enormous increase in mechanical properties of mild steel by surface modification technique. Babu.P.D et.al (2012) showed a significant increase in surface