Duplex Thermochemical Treatment of AISI 420 ESR: Boriding and Nitriding Effects
This study investigates the effect of thermochemical treatments—boriding, nitriding, and sequential boronitriding—on AISI 420 ESR stainless steel. Samples were treated and analyzed via microscopy, microhardness testing, adhesion evaluation, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Boriding produced the highest surface hardness (~1250 HV₀.₀₅), representing an increase of approximately 733% over the base material, but showed poor adhesion. Nitriding showed lower hardness (~1050 HV₀.₀₅),...