PRODUCTION OF CASE HARDENING COMPOUND FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF MILD STEEL FOR IMPROVE HARDNESS
Abstract
The aim of this project is to produce case hardening compound locally due to numerous short fall encountered in mild steel usage in Nigeria particularly resistance to wear and tear and these compound will increase the durability of engineering materials (mild steel) especially when moving components of the machines like gear, shaft, valve, disc etc are involved. Locally case-hardening compound were produced from palm kernel shell, charcoal, and energizer (sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, egg shell, snail shell, cow bone, banana peel). Mild steel undergone case hardening process using locally produced compound and hardness property were investigated to know their effects. After carrying out the hardness test using the Rockwell Hardness Testing Machine on the specimens, the mixture in compound (A) was having the highest effect on the mild steel when compared with control specimens with an average hardness value of 74.3HRC, followed by Compound B, compound C. Results obtained after the testing justified the important of locally produced case hardening compound and this research give rise to the development of the carburizing compound that could be used for carburization of mild steel and improve the hardness properties of component and spare parts made of mild steel. Therefore, palm kernel shell is potentially suitable as a carburizing material than the charcoal at high temperature.
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