Effect of Chromium and Boron on the Morphological and Hardness Characteristics of Cementite

In the course of a study whose aim was to obtain the optimum mechanical characteristics of chromium white iron, we decided to make a preliminary evaluation of how additions of boron and chromium affected the hardness and morphology of cementite. The samples were obtained from pure elements by melting in an arc furnace under argon atmosphere. The alloys were submitted to microdurometric, micrographic and diffractometric analysis. The composition of the individual crystals was defined with the use of an energy dispersive spectrometer.