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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

boronizing

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

Solutions Overview
We provide a comprehensive list of services that can be combined to provide a perfect process for your components.
North America's thermal processing specialists are ready to serve you from our multiple locations.
Meet Bluewater's highly qualified and experienced leadership team.
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