Abstract

Pack carburization is a potential surface hardening process for various components made from low carbon steel. The use of environmentally friendly energizers will help to improve the effectiveness of the pack carburization process. It will also help to develop a relatively simple and economical green technology for improving the surface properties of low carbon steel component. Blood-Cockles shell, Scallop-Clam shell, East-African Land-Snail shell, Gold-Apple-Snail shell, and Chicken-Egg shell were investigated for their effectiveness in improving the diffusion rate of carbon atom in steel in pack carburization with coconut shell charcoal as the carburizing media. Pack Carburization •process was done at 950°C for 2 hours, followed by heat treatment at 850°C for 30 minutes, and water quench, in order to get hardened .surface. The hardness distribution and the Effective Case Depth were then measured and compared. It was found that the Water-animal shells (Blood-Cockles and Scallop Clam) have better effectiveness as energizers for pack carburization process compared to l􀁃nd-animal shells (East­African Land-Snail and Gold-Apple Snail) and Chicken-Egg-shell. In pack carburization process using coconut shell charcoal media, the best composition for producing the deepest Effective Case Depth is 30%wt for Water-animal-shell energizers and 10%wt for Land-animal-shell energizers and Chicken-Egg shell energizer. Keywords: Blood Cockles, Scallop Clam, East-African Land-Snail, Gold-Apple Snail, Chicken-Egg, pac carburization, energizer

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