Boronizing Heat Treatment for Extreme Wear Resistance

Boronizing heat treatment, also known as boriding, is a case hardening diffusion process where boron atoms are diffused into the surface of a metal component. This forms hard, metal-boride compound layers under the surface of a component. Boronized parts have two-five-times longer wear life compared to other heat treatments, such as hardening, carburizing, nitriding, nitrocarburizing or induction hardening.

Boronized parts have 2-5 times longer wear life compared to other heat treatments.

Properties of Boronizing

Extremely high wear resistance (erosion or abrasive wear)
Galling resistance
High surface hardness (1200-1800 HV for ferrous materials, 2000-2800 HV for nickel-based alloys)
Boride layer depths can range from .0005" to .015" deep depending on base material and processing parameters selected.
High-temperature resistance with up to 1200F service temperature possible with no adverse effects or degradation of the boride layer
Increased corrosion resistance to acids
Reduced coefficient of friction
Wide range of materials possible for treatment
Able to be combined with other heat treatment processes such as carburizing, hardening, induction hardening, austempering to develop deeper case depths and improved core properties below boride layer
Able to be selectively applied

Materials Suitable for Boronizing

Plain carbon steels
Alloy steels
Tool steels
Cast iron, ductile iron
Nickel-based superalloys (Inconel, Hastelloy)
Cobalt alloys
Stellite

Applications for Boronizing

Agricultural harvesting components exposed to high wear
Grain handling equipment
Blades and cutters
Ground engaging tools
Pump housings, cases and impellers
Ball valves, gate valves, valve seats, valve housings
Extrusion
Plastic injection molding/compounding equipment such as screws, barrels, dies and augers
Burner nozzles
Rolls
Downhole drilling tools for oil and gas industry
Wire drawing dies
Pipe fittings
Grinding wheels
Glass molding tools / glass cutting tools
Ceramic molding and handling tools
Brick making molds, dies and tools
Plungers
Core pins / ejection pins
Turbine components
Wear rings
Pipes and elbows