Effects of forging and heat treatment on microstructure and properties of high boron cast ferroalloy

To eliminate the boride network in high boron cast ferroalloy, the combined process of forging with heat treatment is adopted. The prepared samples are analyzed by using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results show that forging breaks up the boride network and leads to uniform distribution of boride in matrix. During subsequent heat treatment, spheroidized boride is able to be obtained. The hardness of the high boron cast ferroalloy treated with the combined process increases from HRC 51.4 to HRC 54.7, while the toughness increases evidently from 5 J/cm² to 107 J/cm², and the fracture morphology changes from brittle manner to toughness manner.