Study on microstructure and wear characteristics of carburized steel at different carburizing times using catalyst strombus turturella shell waste powders

Abstract

The feasibility of strombus turturella or dog conch shell powder (DCSP) as a catalyst of the carburizing process was investigated. The microstructure and wear characteristics of carburized specimens at various carburizing times were determined and compared. The microstructures and chemical compositions of the carburized specimen were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) machine with a detector energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The wear characteristics were detected by a Pin-on-disk wear testing machine. While the worn surface morphology of carburized specimens was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) machine. The number of martensite structures of carburized specimens increased by increasing the carburization time from 3 to 12 hours. From the results, it is found that the volume loss value of 0.1 mm3, and wear depths value of 0.18 mm were obtained from carburized specimens prepared with 40% DCSP and carburizing time of 12 hours. This result is much better than that obtained by carburizing times of 6, and 3 hours, respectively. Moreover, the worn surface morphology results depicted that the carburized specimens for carburization times of 3, and 6 hours exhibit more severe spalling, wear debris, and extensive adhesion wear and grooves than that achieved of carburized specimens with a carburizing time of 12 hours. The results clearly showed that the wear characteristics of carburized specimens improved with increasing carburizing time.