Heat Treating for Boron Steel
Maximize Strength and Versatility with Boron
Boron steel alloys are advanced materials renowned for their manufacturability, heat treatability, and cost-efficiency. At Paulo, we leverage our extensive expertise and state-of-the-art technologies to provide superior heat treatment solutions for boron steel alloys, ensuring optimal performance and longevity of your components.
Advanced Manufacturability and Heat Treatability
Boron steel alloys outperform other steel alloys because of their enhanced manufacturability and exceptional heat treatability. The inclusion of boron, even in minute quantities, significantly boosts the material’s properties, offering an advantage in safety-critical applications where parts must be able to withstand welding, forming, and heat treating in the production process and yield high strength with minimal distortion.
Enhanced Performance Without Compromising Efficiency
In the automotive and construction industries, the reliability and performance of materials are critical. Boron steel alloys meet these stringent requirements and withstand the physical demands of manufacturing while maintaining high production efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The alloy’s ability to achieve high strength with minimal distortion during heat treatment processes ensures that critical components perform reliably without increasing manufacturing costs or complexity.
Boron Steel Components We Process
- High-strength seating recliner components (Cams, gears, gear rims, guides, locks, and fasteners)
- Seating frames and brackets
Boron Steel Alloys We Process
10B21
10B21 steel is a boron-containing alloy that excels in applications requiring high strength and toughness. This steel’s composition allows for excellent response to carburizing and carbonitriding, making it ideal for automotive fasteners and seat mechanisms.
Applications: Automotive fasteners, seat mechanisms, and parts requiring case hardening for improved surface wear.
Hardness Ranges: 10B21 is commonly heat treated to a hardness range of 55-62 HRC for automotive components, but the full achievable range for this material is 48-65 HRC.
15B24
15B24 steel is slightly richer in carbon and manganese than 10B21, providing superior strength and wear resistance. It is well-suited for thicker components requiring enhanced durability.
Applications: Structural elements in automotive seating, heavy-duty brackets, and frames.
Hardness Ranges: 15B24 is typically through hardened within 40-45 HRC for structural elements, but the full achievable range for this material is 25-45 HRC.
Heat Treatment Processes for Boron Steel
Through Hardening
The most common thermal process we apply to alloy steels is through hardening to help parts withstand heavy loads during service. One exception to this is carburizing grades like 8620, which sometimes require other processes. Alloy steels are often selected for applications that require fully hardened parts with a thickness greater than ¼”. Carbon steels generally will not fully harden when thickness exceeds ¼”.
Carburizing
Carburizing is a surface-hardening process that enhances the wear resistance of boron steel alloys while maintaining a tough and ductile core. This process is ideal for components that require a hard exterior to resist wear and a flexible core to absorb impacts, such as gears, cams, locks, and other components that make up seat reclining mechanisms. During carburizing, the surface of the steel is enriched with carbon at high temperatures, followed by quenching to lock in the hardness. Boron’s presence in the alloy facilitates a more uniform and deeper carburized case, resulting in superior surface hardness and extended component life.
Through Hardening
The most common thermal process we apply to alloy steels is through hardening to help parts withstand heavy loads during service. One exception to this is carburizing grades like 8620, which sometimes require other processes. Alloy steels are often selected for applications that require fully hardened parts with a thickness greater than ¼”. Carbon steels generally will not fully harden when thickness exceeds ¼”.
Carburizing
Carburizing is a surface-hardening process that enhances the wear resistance of boron steel alloys while maintaining a tough and ductile core. This process is ideal for components that require a hard exterior to resist wear and a flexible core to absorb impacts, such as gears, cams, locks, and other components that make up seat reclining mechanisms. During carburizing, the surface of the steel is enriched with carbon at high temperatures, followed by quenching to lock in the hardness. Boron’s presence in the alloy facilitates a more uniform and deeper carburized case, resulting in superior surface hardness and extended component life.
Metallurgy Support for Boron Alloys
Our team of metallurgists and heat treaters work collaboratively to identify optimal solutions for every alloy we work with, tailoring heat treatment outcomes to the specific application of the components we process. This collaborative approach ensures that our clients receive the highest quality, performance, and reliability from their boron steel alloy components.
Heat treating boron steel involves a series of controlled heating and cooling cycles that refine its microstructure, enhancing its mechanical properties to suit specific applications. Processes are tailored to the specific type of boron steel and its intended use, ensuring the material achieves the optimal balance of hardness, strength, and wear resistance. Paulo’s expertise in heat treatment allows for the customization of boron steel’s properties, making it suitable for specialized applications ranging from intricate automotive components to robust structural elements.
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