SIMULATION AND MODELING OF A CARBURIZING PROCESS USING VARIABLES FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE IN SERVICE IN AISI 1032 STEEL

Abstract

The mechanical properties of AISI 1032 steel samples carburized in Wood Charcoal and Snail Shell were investigated. The samples were modeled and simulated using Fick’s law and C++, in order to evaluate the performances of solid carburizing media on the mechanical properties of steels at different conditions. The results revealed that the case depth, tensile strength and hardness values of samples carburized with Wood Charcoal (WChl) are higher compared to those carburized with Snail Shell (SS) at 800 0C and 950 0C respectively. These were evidently substantiated with their micrographs as observed under DV-500 Version 10.2 Metallurgical Microscope with X500 magnification. The case-depth is directly proportional to the carburized temperature and time. It was concluded that Fick’s law is good at predicting the diffusion of carbon in steels.