The Development of Ecofriendly Energizers as Replacement for Industrial Chemical Energizers in the Casehardening of Mild Steel Materials
Publication Date: 31/05/2019
Author(s): Ihom Paul Aondona, Kingsley Uwaekwuna Azoro.
Volume/Issue: Volume 2 , Issue 2 (2019)
Abstract:
Efforts have been made in this work titled ‘’the Development of Ecofriendly Energizers as Replacement for Industrial chemical Energizers in the Casehardening of Mild Steel Materials’’ to develop an ecofriendly carburizing compound, which will agree with the green chemistry concept of avoiding the release of waste products to the environment. The work started with the carburization of test specimens in three carburizing compounds A, B and C. This was carried out in the electric furnace for 8hrs at the carburizing temperature of 920oC after which the specimens were removed and quenched in water. They were then dried and prepared for surface hardness test, hardness profile and microstructural analysis. The result of the above tests showed that the ecofriendly compound C which had a mixture of charcoal, periwinkle, cow bone and banana peel had the highest surface hardness of 69 HRC and case depth of 0.18 mm as against compound B which followed with 0.11 mm case depth and 64.39 HRC surface hardness. Compound B contained industrial chemical compounds which have environmental challenges in terms of health and safety. The work has proven that the developed carburizing compound C can be used to replace the carburizing compound with industrial chemical energizers given the good result it has produced.
