Wear and Friction Properties of Boronitrocarburized AISI 1018 Steel Using the Powder-Packing Method in a Single Stage

The thermochemical diffusion treatment of boronitrocarburizing in a single stage was conducted on AISI 1018 steel using the powder-packing method. The treatment was performed at temperatures of 1123 K, 1173 K, and 1223 K for 8 h. The specimens were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) enabling a superficial elemental analysis of B, N, and C diffusion into the substrate. The tribological effects of friction and wear under dry conditions were analyzed through a pin-on-disc test, employing an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) sphere and a profilometer to measure mass loss. The study concluded that the sample treated at 1173 K exhibited the best tribological performance, showing the lowest coefficient of friction (μ≈0.1216), while the samples treated at 1123 K and 1223 K exhibited coefficients of friction of μ≈0.1611 and μ≈0.1856, respectively. All treated samples showed a reduction in the coefficient of friction compared to the control sample (μ≈0.558).