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The Basics of Ferrous Metallurgy

102 Articles

Basic Principles of Arc Welding

This comprehensive guide explores the fundamental principles of shielded metal-arc welding using transformer welding machines. It examines how electrical arcs form when electrodes contact steel, allowing controlled metal deposition through the arc.

Boron Grain Refinement: Part One

Grain refinement is an established technique which basically reduces the grain size of the material with the direct intention to improve its finished properties or characteristics.
The addition of boron specifically in aluminum castings, which are well known for their poor mechanical properties, can improve these characteristics to expand the potential use of the castings to a multitude of other applications.

Boron Grain Refinement: Part Two

Grain refinement using inoculents such as boron increase the nucleation sites within the material and there for lead to improvements in the overall durability of the material.
As well as reducing quality issues such as hot tearing, boron also provides enhancements to some key properties such as electrical and heat conductivity.

Boron in Steel: Part One

Boron is a critical alloying element that significantly enhances steel hardenability when added in optimal concentrations of 0.0003 to 0.0030% B. At atmospheric pressure and 0°C, boron exists as a solid material that can be supplied to steelmakers as ferroboron or proprietary alloys. The element's effectiveness stems from its ability to segregate at austenite grain boundaries, retarding gamma-alpha transformations and preventing ferritic reactions.

Boron in Steel: Part Two

Boron serves as a critical alloying element in steel, primarily recognized for its exceptional hardenability enhancement properties. This article explores how minute additions of boron (typically 3-15 ppm) can significantly improve steel hardness, providing effects comparable to larger quantities of more expensive alloying elements like nickel, chromium, or molybdenum.

Carbide Free Bainitic (CFB) Steels: Part One

Development of third generation, advanced high strength steels (AHSS) is well underway and is focused on advancements to provide even more superior strength-ductility ratios than in the currently available materials such as dual phase or TRIP steels.
Carbide free bainitic (CFB) steels may well contribute to these developments and in this article we explore the unique contributions that they can make.