Spectroscopic investigation of plasma electrolytic borocarburizing on q235 low-carbon steel

Abstract A plasma electrolytic borocarburizing process (PEB/C) in borax electrolyte with glycerin additive was employed to fabricate a hardening layer on Q235 low-carbon steel. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was utilized to investigate the spectroscopy characteristics of plasma discharge around the steel during PEB/C process. Some plasma parameters were calculated in terms of OES. The electron temperature and electron concentration in plasma discharge zone is about 3000–12,000 K and 2 × 10 22 m −3 –1.4 × 10 23 m −3 . The atomic ionization degrees of iron, carbon and boron are 10 −16 –10 −3 , and 10 −23 –10 −6 , 10 −19 –10 −4 , respectively, which depend on discharge time. The surface morphology and cross-sectional microstructure of PEB/C hardening layer were observed, and the electrolyte decomposition and plasma discharge behaviors were discussed.