Question

Determine the carburizing time necessary to achieve a carbon concentration of 0.30 wt.% at a position of 4 mm into an iron-carbon alloy that initially contains 0.10 wt.% C. The surface concentration is to be maintained at 0.90 wt.% C, and the treatment is to be conducted at C. Use the diffusion data for -Fe in Table 5.2

Answer 1

the carburizing time necessary to achieve a carbon concentration is 31.657 hours

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the data in the question;

To determine the carburizing time necessary to achieve the given carbon concentration, we will be using the following equation:

(Cs - Cx) / (Cs - C0) = ERF( x / 2√Dt)

where Cs is Concentration of carbon at surface = 0.90

Cx is Concentration of carbon at distance x = 0.30 ; x in this case is 4 mm = ( 0.004 m )

C0 is Initial concentration of carbon = 0.10

ERF() = Error function at the given value

D = Diffusion of Carbon into steel

t = Time necessary to achieve given carbon concentration ,

so

(Cs - Cx) / (Cs - C0) = (0.9 - 0.3) / (0.9 - 0.1)

= 0.6 / 0.8

= 0.75

now, ERF(z) = 0.75; using ERF table, we can say;

Z ~ 0.81; which means ( x / 2√Dt) = 0.81

Now, Using the table of diffusion data

D = 5.35 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/sec at (1100°C) or 1373 K

now we calculate the carbonizing time by using the following equation;

z = (x/2√Dt)

t is carbonizing time

so we we substitute in our values

0.81 = ( 0.004 / 2 × √5.35 × 10⁻¹¹ × √t)

0.81 = 0.004 / 1.4628 × 10⁻⁵ × √t

0.81 × 1.4628 × 10⁻⁵ × √t = 0.004

1.184868 × 10⁻⁵ × √t = 0.004

√t = 0.004 / 1.184868 × 10⁻⁵

√t = 337.5903

t = ( 337.5903)²

t = 113967.21 seconds

we convert to hours

t = 113967.21 / 3600

t = 31.657 hours

Therefore, the carburizing time necessary to achieve a carbon concentration is 31.657 hours