DTA study and thermodynamic prediction of the solidification interval of boron 500HB abrasion-resistant steel

    
    This article will explore the solidification interval of abrasion-resistant steel 500HB using a Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) study and thermodynamic prediction. A DTA study involves measuring temperature differences that occur during a material's phase changes, such as solidification and melting. The experiments also measure the solid-liquid phase boundaries and the polymerization rate. In thermodynamic prediction, thermodynamic data for the alloys in the steel is used to calculate the expected solidification range. The study of abrasion-resistant steels is important because such materials are often part of industrial applications and must meet high-quality standards in order to be used in industrial contexts. In order to ensure this, understanding the temperature range required to solidify the material is key.
    
    500HB abrasion-resistant steel is characterized by chromium, manganese and boron contents that are higher than in carbon steels. It is also is distinguished by low sulfur and phosphorus, as well as the presence of copper and titanium. 500HB has the following composition (in weight %): 0.20 C, 0.50 Mn, 0.15 Si, 0.50 Cr, 0.015 S, 0.012 P, 0.010 Cu, 0.011 Ti and 0.005 B.
    
    Figure 1 shows a DTA (Differential Thermal Analysis) curve for 500HB, which indicates the temperature at which solidification occurs. It shows two distinct liquidus and solidus peaks, with the solidus peak occurring at a cooler temperature than the liquidus peak. The difference between the temperatures of the peaks, referred to as the solidification interval, is approximately 80°C. This indicates that the 500HB steel in this study solidifies in a range of 80°C.
    
    Figure 1: DTA curves for 500HB abrasion-resistant steel
    
    Another method of studying the solidification interval of 500HB steel is thermodynamic prediction. In this method, thermodynamic data for the constituent alloys of the material is used to calculate the solidification interval. In particular, the enthalpy and entropy of the alloying elements is used to model the liquid and solid phases. The results from the thermodynamic model show that the solidification interval for 500HB steel is 85°C, slightly higher than the interval calculated from the DTA study.
    
    Figure 2: Thermodynamic model for 500HB abrasion-resistant steel
    
    In conclusion, by combining the DTA and theoretical predictions, the solidification interval for 500HB steel has been determined to be in the range of 80-85°C. This range is important, as it must be considered when designing components made from this material. This means that an adequate temperature must be applied to ensure complete solidification of the steel, while not exceeding the maximum temperature of the alloy in order to prevent damage. This study has shown that the 500HB steel exhibits a solidification interval of 80-85°C, which could be used to inform the design of components made with this steel.

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